WCU's Leslie Martin Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District III Second Team

June 3, 2004

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina University track and field standout Leslie Martin (Jonesville, Va.) has been named to the Academic All-District III second team as voted on by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), it was announced today.

Martin, a junior, made All-Southern Conference during the indoor season in the 400 meters, 4x400 meter relay and the distance medley relay. In the outdoor season, she won the 800 meters at the Yellow Jacket Invitational on April 3. Her time of 2:08.87 at the meet was both an NCAA Regional qualifying time and the fastest in the SoCon during the outdoor season, earning her SoCon Track and Field Athlete of the Week honors. Martin followed that performance up with a first place finish at the UNC Charlotte Invitational on April 11, coming in at 2:10.33. In that meet, she was additionally part of the 4x400 meter relay team which came in second with a season-best time of 3:46.67. Along with teammate Josh Lee, Martin was named the Arby's/Catamount Student-Athlete of the Month for April.

At the SoCon Outdoor Championships in May, Martin took home the title in the women's 800 meters, finishing in 2:11.94. Wrapping up the season at the NCAA East Regional in Gainesville, Fla., the junior came in at 2:10.41.

Martin is an Art Education major and a six-time Dean's List honoree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.886 as of the time of nomination (it has since risen to 3.893). She has additionally been named to the TIAA-CREF Academic All-SoCon team for winter and spring sports both as a sophomore and during her junior year. Martin is also a WCU and SoCon honor roll member.

For the year, WCU had five student-athletes receive Academic All-District honors, including Martin. Joining her were Yoneko Allen (basketball), Brandy Andersen (golf), Emily Pierce (soccer) and Jason Whaley (football).

2004 Academic All-America Women's Track & Field District III University Division Team
First Team

Name School Dist. Yr. Hometown GPA Major Kelly Baker James Madison III Sr. Fayetteville, Pa. 3.976 Modern Foreign Languages Lindsay Gerraughty North Carolina III Jr. Nashua, N.H. 3.539 Biology Sharonda Johnson Charlotte III So. Raleigh, N.C. 3.867 Chemistry Jenny Lake South Carolina III Jr. Geneseo, Ill. 4.0 Math/ Pre-Med Micki Logue UNC Asheville III Sr. Cary, N.C. 3.94 Physics & Mathematics Celly Martinez Georgia III Sr. Naucalpan, Mexico 3.95 Economics & Political Science Danielle McNaney Liberty III Jr. Gardner, Kansas 4.0 Secondary Math Education Gisele Oliveira Clemson III Jr. Porto Alegre, Brazil 3.95 Management Marleis Overbeeke Virginia Tech III Sr. Rotterdam, Netherlands 3.8 Sociology Rebekah Potts Furman III Sr. Birmingham, Ala. 4.0 Chemistry Alice Schmidt North Carolina III Sr. Omaha, Neb. 3.642 Journalism & Political Science

Second Team

Name School Dist. Yr. Hometown GPA Major Dara Altman Florida III So. Tampa, Fla. 4.0 Exercise & Sport Sciences Kim Barrett Florida III Jr. Miami, Fla. 3.32 Sociology Jessica Burgeson Elon III Sr. Burlington, N.C. 3.78 Sports Medicine Lauren Burks Georgia III So. Cottage Grove, Minn. 3.83 Biology & Spanish Carling Cookerly Florida III Jr. Sarasota, Fla. 3.98 Accounting Erin Donahue North Carolina III Jr. Haddonfield, N.J. 3.635 Business Ali Henderson William & Mary III Sr. Parkville, Mo. 3.63 Psychology Leslie Martin Western Carolina III Jr. Jonesville, Va. 3.886 Art Shannon Rowbury Duke III So. San Francisco, Calif. 3.843 English Shanta Smith Georgia Tech III Jr. Miami, Fla. 3.35 Management