2012 Washington University Graduate Elizabeth Phillips Selected as NCAA Woman of the Year Finalist

St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 14, 2012 – Washington University in St. Louis 2012 graduate Elizabeth Phillips is among the top-nine student-athletes selected as finalists for the 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year award. The winner of the award will be announced on Oct. 14 during a ceremony in Indianapolis.

Phillips is the fourth NCAA Woman of the Year finalist in Washington University school history, joining Julia Burdick (1992), Amy Sullivan (1994) and Alia Fisher (2000).

The other eight finalists for the 2012 Woman of the Year award include: Hillary Bach (Arizona State University), Grace Collins (Barry University), Kate Griewisch (Lenoir-Rhyne University), Kelsey Kittleson (Luther College), Sarah Jane Otey (U.S. Coast Guard Academy), Brooke Pancake (University of Alabama), Alexi Pappas (Dartmouth University), and Verena Preikschas (California State University, Stanislaus).

This year’s finalists were selected based on academic achievement, athletics excellence and dedication to community service and leadership. Three women from each NCAA division were chosen as finalists. The nine finalists are among the 30 Woman of the Year honorees who will be honored during the Oct. 14 event. The pool of 30 emerged from a group of nearly 430 nominees, and includes 10 honorees from each NCAA division.

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. In 2012, Phillips was named the 2012 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. She also earned first-team Academic All-America honors in 2011 and 2012.

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.

During her final track & field season, Phillips 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. She then capped her stellar career by finishing sixth in the 1,500 to earn All-America honors at the 2012 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

The NCAA established the Woman of the Year Award in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics. The award recognizes not only the athletics achievements of outstanding young women, but also their academic achievements, community service and leadership.