Elizabeth Phillips Leads Four Washington U. Student-Athletes on Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Teams

St. Louis, Mo., June 19, 2012 – Senior Elizabeth Phillips was named the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America of the Year Division III award winner for women’s track & field/cross country, leading four Academic All-America selections for the Washington University in St. Louis men’s and women’s track & field/cross country teams. The selections were announced Tuesday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Phillips became the first track & field/cross country Academic All-America of the Year winner in Washington U. history. She is just the sixth individual in any sport at Washington University to receive Academic All-America of the Year honors, and the first since 2008. Amy Albers (volleyball, 1994), Alia Fischer (women’s basketball, 2000), Troy Ruths (men’s basketball, 2007, 2008), Amy Sullivan (volleyball, 1992, 1993), and Liz Swary (softball, 2005) were also Academic All-America of the Year award recipients for their respective sports.

Phillips, a first-team Academic All-America honoree for the second year in a row, was joined on the women’s first team by senior Erica Jackey. Senior Tyler Jackson was named to the men’s Academic All-America first team, while senior Michael Burnstein picked up second-team accolades.

Phillips, who graduated in May with a degree in biomedical engineering and a 4.0 GPA, became the first-ever three-time NCAA Elite 88/89 Award winner in any NCAA division and finished her career as the most decorated track & field student-athlete in school history. A seven-time indoor and outdoor track & field All-American, she ranks in the top-three in Washington University history in five different indoor and outdoor events, including holding the outdoor 1,500 school record.

This year, Phillips finished 40th individually to help Washington U. capture its first NCAA Division III National Championship in women’s cross country. She earned All-America honors with a third-place finish in the mile and as a member of the national runner-up distance medley relay team at the 2012 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships, before finishing sixth in the 1,500 to earn All-America honors at the 2012 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Burnstein became the first three-time cross country All-American in school history, placing 10th with a career-best time at the 2011 Cross Country Championships to earn his third-straight All-America honors. He raced to All-America honors in the 10,000 meters for the third year in a row at the 2012 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Burnstein graduated in May with a 3.53 GPA, and a degree in urban studies with entrepreneurship and political science minors.

Jackey finished an impressive senior season by earning six All-America honors and setting five school records in 2011-12. She placed fourth at the 2011 Cross Country Championships to lead Washington U. to its first national title in school history. Jackey finished as the national runner-up in the mile and distance medley relay at the 2012 Indoor Track & Field Championships. She raced to All-America honors in the 800, 1,500 and 5,000 at the 2012 Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Jackey graduated in May with a degree in environmental studies, while carrying a 3.87 GPA.

Jackson became the first NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field National Champion in Washington University history by winning the 60 hurdles at the 2012 Championships. He set the school record and posted the second-fastest time in NCAA Division III history with his winning time of 7.93. A three-time All-American, Jackson finished his career ranked in the top-two in school history in both the 60 hurdles and the 110 hurdles. Jackson graduated in May with a 3.45 GPA while majoring in biology with a psychology minor.

In order to receive Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must demonstrate success on the playing field and in the classroom, with both academic and athletic achievements taken into consideration. The student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA and be at least a sophomore in academic and athletic standing.

Note: GPAs listed are cumulative through the 2011 fall semester.