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Camels recognized as outstanding scholar athletes

Connecticut College sophomore Mike LeDuc has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America Men's Cross Country/Track & Field Third Team in Division III as selected by The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). LeDuc garnered All-America accolades in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Claremont, Calif. The sophomore standout posted a school record setting time of 8:59.54 en route to a fourth place finish, besting his previous school mark of 9:01.83 that was set at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship May 18. He also moved up two spots from his All-America finish in 2011.

"I am not at all surprised that Mike has accomplished so much academically and athletically in only two years at Connecticut College," said Jim Butler, the College's men's cross country head coach and assistant head coach of track & field. "When I first started recruiting him, I quickly came to learn that Mike came from a very supportive family, had a great background at Canton (Conn.) High School both in the classroom and running-wise, and that he was extremely motivated and dedicated to being as good as he can be in all of his endeavors."

To be eligible for nomination to CoSIDA's Capital One Academic All-America teams, students must excel both academically and athletically. The athletes must be starters or important reserve players with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30. They are also required to have participated in at least 50 percent of their team's games and to have completed one full calendar year at their institution.

Last fall, LeDuc was named to the first team of the All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Men's Cross Country squad for the second consecutive year. In 2010, he was named NESCAC Rookie of the Year. The botany major has also been recognized on the NESCAC All-Academic Team in all three seasons for the Camels this year.

During the 2011-2012 academic year, CoSIDA also recognized five Connecticut College student-athletes as First Team honorees in District 2. In the fall, seniors Isaac Hancock (men's soccer) and Amy Newman (volleyball) garnered All-District honors. Senior swimmer Tim Walsh (at-large) and Lindsay Paiva (cross country/track & field) joined LeDuc as First Team selections in the District this spring.



June 22, 2012