BETHLEHEM - Track and field sprinter Cheryl Griffin capped an award-filled East Stroudsburg University athletic career Thursday when she was named to the Verizon Academic All-America third team.

She was one of 45 college division athletes honored, 15 on each of three teams, on the women's spring at-large team. The selections were made by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Griffin previously had been an Verizon Academic All-District first team selection. She also won the awards in May as both ESU's Senior Female Athlete of the Year and Senior Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The Walden, N.Y. resident graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 3.858 average in English Teacher Certification on May 12th. She left ESU with five individual school records in the sprints. She also was a member of four school record-setting relay teams.

She ran the fastest leg on the Warriors' 4 x 400-meter relay team which won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship the last two years. She was a four-time conference place-winner in the sprints.

She was named the outstanding female runner at the ECAC Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in March after winning both the 55 and 100-meter dashes and running on two winning relay teams.

Griffin, a state track place-winner for Valley Central High School, is the second ESU athlete to gain Academic All-America honors this year. Swimmer Erin Kowalik was chosen on the Verizon Academic All-America Women's Fall-Winter At-Large second team in March.

The Academic All-America teams:

First Team - track and field competitors Kim Baier (Augustana), Tina Basten (Wisconsin-Lacrosse), Susan Bettcher (Denison), Jenni Donohue (Wartburg), Jennifer Higgins (St. Cloud State), Kristen Lane (Widener), Beth Luebbering (Truman State), Stephanie Moss (Ohio Wesleyan), Heidi Wolfsberger (Moravian); golfer Carol Brogan (Methodist); lacrosse players Brooke Andrews (Ithaca), Kim Rochon (West Chester), Laura Sturgis (Western New England); tennis players Gabriela Laneman (Oklahoma Christian), Laura Tollett (Harding).

Second Team - track and field competitors Lauren Byler (Ithaca), Kelly Cothern (Findlay), Kathy Darling (Rowan), Ellen Findlay (Wisconsin-Lacrosse), Stacy Horner (Gustavus Adolphus), Megan Hyland (Rensselaer Poly), Leah Juno (Wisconsin-Stevens Point), Jessica Kindschi (South Dakota State), Brianne Schoonover (Wartburg), Amy Tirmenstein (Augustana), Lara Woods (Tarleton State)' tennis players Jenna Calomeris (Wingate), Jenny Pekulik (Wisconsin-Oshkosh); golfer Maria Persson (Florida Southern); lacrosse player Bridget Geiman (Mary Washington)

Third Team - track and field competitors Nicole Cassmeyer (Central Missouri State), Sarah Deeb (Tufts), Shelli Frey (Haverford), Mary Garrett (Missouri Southern), Cheryl Griffin (East Stroudsburg), Jeanette Mott (Pittsburg State), Kendra Robins (Emory), Casey Smith (Roanoke), Jenarah Tekippe (Luther), Kate Wright (Tarleton State); golfer Laura Potts (Truman State); tennis players Karen Dutton Adams (Greensboro), Ellen Anderson (Gustavus Adolphus), Courtney Rice (Moravian), Bobbye Thompson (Hardin-Simmons). ###