CSR (Hamilton and Lair Named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans)

(Editor's Note: On Tuesday, June 22, it was stated that Calvin was the only school to place three individuals on the CoSIDA Academic All-America team in the men's cross country/track and field division. In fact, Calvin is one of two schools to accomplish the feat as Emory University (GA) also had three individuals named as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Like Calvin, Emory had three individuals named to the first team and one to the third team. A complete list of the CoSIDA Academic All-America men's cross country/track and field honorees can be found at: http://www.calvin.edu/sports/releases/2003_04/aaateam.pdf)

June 24, 2004

Hamilton and Lair Named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans

Calvin College has added two more names to its lengthy list of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans ® as Laura Hamilton and Jessie Lair have been so honored in the women's cross country/track and field college division.

Hamilton has been named a CoSIDA second team All-American while Lair has been named to the third team. Both individuals are receiving Academic All-America ® honors for the first time.

The award is indeed significant for Hamilton and Lair as they are part of only 45 cross country/track and field athletes selected as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in the women's college division which represents a broad spectrum of colleges and universities at the NCAA II, III and NAIA levels.

The CoSIDA Academic All-America teams are selected by the College Sports Information Director's Association of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible for nomination, an individual must be a starter or a key reserve with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20. In addition, student-athletes must have completed one full academic year at their respective institutions.

Hamilton is from Downers Grove, Illinois and is a graduate of Timothy Christian High School. Hamilton recently wrapped up a sensational junior campaign on the Calvin women's track and field team as she was a part of three All-America performances at the NCAA III Championships, helping Calvin to a second place team finish and a school record team point total of 54.3 points.

At the national meet, Hamilton took third in the 400 meter hurdles with a school record time of 1:00.70. She also ran a leg on Calvin's 4x100 meter relay team that took fourth and its 4x400 meter relay team that took third. Hamilton has been on five All-America relay teams during her career and has recorded six All-America performances overall. She served as a team captain this past spring and led the Knights to their 15th straight MIAA title in track and field.

Hamilton is a three-time MIAA champion in the 400 meter hurdles and was also the MIAA champion in the 100 meter hurdles this past spring. She is a three-time All-MIAA selection in track and field.

Hamilton is majoring in chemical engineering and carries a 3.92 grade point average. She is a six-time member of the Calvin Dean's List and a two-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and United States Track and Field Coaches Association All-Academic Team.

A native of West Bloomfield and a graduate of Southfield Christian High School, Lair was a two-time NCAA III cross country All-American at Calvin, placing 15th at the 2003 NCAA III Championships and 13th in 2002. Her finish in 2002 helped Calvin finish fifth as a team at the NCAA III Cross Country Championships. A four-time member of the All-MIAA first team in cross country, Lair was also named the Great Lakes Regional Cross Country Athlete of the Year this fall after taking first place at the Great Lakes Regional meet. In addition, she was named the MIAA's MVP in cross country twice.

In track and field, Lair was a three-time All-MIAA selection and a three-time national qualifier. She also posted an NCAA III provisional qualifying time in the 10,000 meters this spring. She is the school record holder in the 10,000 meters with a time of 36:01 established back in 2002.

Lair was recently graduated from Calvin with a degree in education with an emphasis in art. She carried a 3.73 grade point average at Calvin was an eight-time member of the Calvin Dean's List, a four-time member of the College Cross Country Coaches All-Academic team and a three-time member of the United States Track and Field Coaches Association All-Academic team.

Calvin concludes the 2003-2004 academic year with six CoSIDA Academic All-Americans as Joel Veldhouse was also named to the first team in men's soccer, Hendrik Kok and Tim Avery to the first team in men's cross country/track and field and Matt Edwards to the third team in men's cross country/track and field. It marks the second-highest single-season collection of CoSIDA Academic All-America honors by Calvin, surpassed only by the eight awards earned by Calvin athletes in 1997.

Calvin has now had its athletes receive CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades 56 times including 31 in the last seven years.

A complete list of the CoSIDA Academic All-American women's track and field/cross country honorees can be found at: http://www.calvin.edu/sports/releases/2003_04/wtraa.pdf
 

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Thu Jun 24 10:30:42 2004