June 17, 2004
Cooksey named GLVC Scholar Athlete of Year
University of Southern Indiana women’s track and field competitor Heather Cooksey (Brownsburg, Indiana) was named the GLVC Scholar Athlete of the Year for women’s track and field. Cooksey is the first track and field athlete in USI history to earn GLVC Scholar Athlete of the Year honors.
Cooksey joins past USI winners Duncan Bray (men’s soccer) Jessica Pigman (women’s soccer) Laura Compton (women’s golf) Andrew Majxner (men’s tennis) Elizabeth Prewett (women’s basketball) Shannon Wells (volleyball) and Emily Blinzinger (women’s tennis). Majxner, Wells, and Blinzinger were all two-time winners in their respective sports.
The GLVC Scholar Athlete of the Year award is based upon academic excellence, academic performance, and athletic accomplishments in the season upon which the award is based. Each conference member has the opportunity to nominate one individual from its team for the award. Nominees must have a cumulative grade point average which meets the Academic All-America standards (3.2 GPA), and freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible for the award.
An Academic All-GLVC and All-District V performer in both cross country and track and field, Cooksey became USI’s first female national champion in May by winning the 3,000 meters at the NCAA II Outdoor National Championships.
She earned All-America status in three events—the outdoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters as well as the indoor mile—this year and was named the Great Lakes Region Outdoor Track Female Athlete of the Year. In addition, she was the Indiana Little State Female Track Athlete of the Year.
In 2004 alone, Cooksey won 15 of the 18 individual races she competed in, including two GLVC titles during the indoor season and one during the outdoor season.
Two years into her career, Cooksey has finished first 21 times and is a five-time All-American as well as an eight-time All-GLVC performer.
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
