2012 Washington U. Graduate Elizabeth Phillips Receives NCAA Today's Top 10 Award

Grapevine, Texas, Jan. 23, 2013 - 2012 Washington University in St. Louis graduate Elizabeth Phillips was presented the NCAA Today's Top 10 Award by Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton Friday at the NCAA Convention in Grapevine, Texas.

Phillips was one of two student-athletes chosen from Division III, and was honored alongside Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford, wrestling), Miles Batty (Brigham Young, cross country, indoor & outdoor track and field), Ashley Brignac (Louisiana-Lafayette, softball), Micah Davis (Delta State, football), Robert Griffin III (Baylor, football), Stacey Hagensen (Pacific Lutheran, softball), Lindsay Lettow (Central Missouri, indoor & outdoor track and field), Brooke Pancake (Alabama, golf), and Wendy Trott (Georgia, swimming and diving).

Phillips, who graduated in May with a degree in biomedical engineering and a 4.0 GPA, completed her career as one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history. She became the first-ever three-time NCAA Elite 88/89 Award winner in any NCAA division, and was selected as the 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year. In 2012, Phillips was also named the Capital One Academic All-America of the Year Division III award winner for women’s track & field/cross country, making her the first track & field/cross country Academic All-America of the Year winner in Washington U. history.

A seven-time indoor and outdoor track & field All-American, Phillips ranks in the top-three in Washington University history in five different indoor and outdoor events, including holding the outdoor 1,500 school record. She was the team captain and finished 40th individually to help Washington U. capture its first NCAA Division III National Championship in women’s cross country in 2011.

Phillips is in her first year of medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, and serving as a volunteer assistant cross country coach at Penn.

The NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award recognizes student-athletes who completed their athletics eligibility during the 2011-12 academic year for their success on the fields and courts, in the classroom, and in the community. Previously, the award recognized eight student-athletes and was known as Today’s Top VIII. The NCAA Honors Committee expanded the award to honor 10 student-athletes to recognize the increased number of student-athletes, sports and championship opportunities.