Mustang Daily Staff Report
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True freshman Laura Hollander was awarded a position on the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-American team following her ninth-place finish at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship on Saturday. During the Big West Conference Championship, Hollander raced in record time and was honored with both Big West Women’s Athlete of the Year and Big West Women’s Freshman of the Year awards.
As if becoming the first Cal Poly woman to earn Big West Women’s Athlete of the Year and the fifth Cal Poly runner in seven years to claim the Big West’s Freshman of the Year Award was not enough for the young runner, she also set three course records, claimed four individual titles and earned three Big West Women’s Athlete of the Week honors. And now, the Huntington Beach native has earned an All-American status as true freshman.
Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Mark Conover recognizes the impact the true freshman has had on the program, and he is anticipating great things from her in the future.
“What Laura accomplished this year has been tremendous,” Conover said. “I couldn’t be more proud of her. Just the way she went about her business this year was great. Consistency is the hallmark for achieving success in athletics. She had an incredibly consistent year at the highest possible level. That just shows what kind of person she is.”
Jefferson P. Nolan contributed to this report.