Lindsey Blanks, Mitch Lipe Claim Academic All-America Honors
6/25/2020 10:18:00 PM | Track and Field
Both Falcons earned third-team status on the national list, presented by CoSIDA.
AUSTIN, Texas – Two members of the Air Force track and field team – distance runner Lindsey Blanks and pole vaulter Mitch Lipe – were named Academic All-Americans by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) organization on June 25. It is the first such honor for Blanks and Lipe, who both claimed third-team distinction on the 2020 Academic All-American Division I Track/Field and Cross Country Team.
Blanks, a recently commissioned second lieutenant who finished the nomination period with a 3.90 GPA and graduated last month with a degree in operations research, is the Academy record holder in the 2000- and 3000-meter steeplechase events. A two-time all-conference selection as a senior (2019 cross country, 2020 distance medley relay), she was the No. 3 runner on the cross country team that capped a historic 2019 season with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Blanks, who qualified to the NCAA meet in the steeplechase as a junior, is one of only two Air Force women to make multiple trips to the NCAA Cross Country Championships at the Division I level, after finishing as the No. 5 runner on the squad that made the women's first-ever team appearance at the national championships in 2016.
Lipe, a rising senior and the 2020 Mountain West Indoor champion in the pole vault, maintained a 3.67 GPA in aeronautical engineering. A five-time medalist and all-conference selection in his signature event, he debuted in ninth on the Academy's all-time indoor standings this winter after recording a career-best clearance of 17'6½" (5.35m) at the Air Force Invitational. Lipe, a four-time Mountain West Athlete of the Week honoree, finished first in three meets during the 2020 indoor season, bringing his career win total to seven – with four additional placements as the top collegiate finisher.
Thirteen Falcons have been selected as Academic All-Americans a total of 17 times, as Blanks and Lipe joined Mary Manning (1984, 1985), Chris Nelson (1991, 1992), Nick Wilson (2006), Kenny Grosselin (2008), Brittany Morreale (2010), Matthew Bell (2013), Jeremy Drenckhahn (2013), Rebecca Esselstein (2013, 2014, 2015), Josh Nielsen (2014), Taylor Smith (2016) and Katie Burnham (2018) on the prestigious list.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution, be nominated by his/her sports information director and earn first-team status at the District level. Academic All-America distinction is determined by votes from sports information directors across the country.
For more information on the program, visit the Academic All-America page at CoSIDA.com.
Blanks, a recently commissioned second lieutenant who finished the nomination period with a 3.90 GPA and graduated last month with a degree in operations research, is the Academy record holder in the 2000- and 3000-meter steeplechase events. A two-time all-conference selection as a senior (2019 cross country, 2020 distance medley relay), she was the No. 3 runner on the cross country team that capped a historic 2019 season with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Blanks, who qualified to the NCAA meet in the steeplechase as a junior, is one of only two Air Force women to make multiple trips to the NCAA Cross Country Championships at the Division I level, after finishing as the No. 5 runner on the squad that made the women's first-ever team appearance at the national championships in 2016.
Lipe, a rising senior and the 2020 Mountain West Indoor champion in the pole vault, maintained a 3.67 GPA in aeronautical engineering. A five-time medalist and all-conference selection in his signature event, he debuted in ninth on the Academy's all-time indoor standings this winter after recording a career-best clearance of 17'6½" (5.35m) at the Air Force Invitational. Lipe, a four-time Mountain West Athlete of the Week honoree, finished first in three meets during the 2020 indoor season, bringing his career win total to seven – with four additional placements as the top collegiate finisher.
Thirteen Falcons have been selected as Academic All-Americans a total of 17 times, as Blanks and Lipe joined Mary Manning (1984, 1985), Chris Nelson (1991, 1992), Nick Wilson (2006), Kenny Grosselin (2008), Brittany Morreale (2010), Matthew Bell (2013), Jeremy Drenckhahn (2013), Rebecca Esselstein (2013, 2014, 2015), Josh Nielsen (2014), Taylor Smith (2016) and Katie Burnham (2018) on the prestigious list.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution, be nominated by his/her sports information director and earn first-team status at the District level. Academic All-America distinction is determined by votes from sports information directors across the country.
For more information on the program, visit the Academic All-America page at CoSIDA.com.
Players Mentioned
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