Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech cross country standout Tasmin Fanning won the NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced on Monday.
Fanning, a human nutrition, foods and exercise major completed one of the strongest cross country careers in Tech history in 2008, as the Charlottesville, Va., native earned the highest finish in a national meet for a Hokie cross country runner, male or female, in school history. Fanning placed third at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, clocking a career-best time 19:27.1 at the 6k course in Terre Haute, Ind, and became the only Hokie runner to win two All-America honors in a career. She crossed the line in 12th at the 2007 national meet.
The Western Albemarle High alum also won the NCAA Southeast Regional in 2008, another first in Tech history, and won the Southeast Region Athlete of the Year Award for her efforts. Earlier in the year, Fanning finished second at the ACC Championships and the Chile Pepper Invitational.
Along with being the Scholar Athlete of the Year, Fanning also earned a spot on the USTFCCCA All-Academic squad. Fanning is one of six ACC runners named to the team.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average and must finish in the top 15 finishers (or top 10 percent) of the field at their respective NCAA regional meet or attain All-American status at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.