Baton Rouge, La. – Lisa Gunnarsson, a mechanical engineering major with a perfect 4.0 GPA, was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Scholar Athlete of the Year on Thursday afternoon for both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Gunnarsson maintained a flawless transcript in the classroom all while accomplishing amazing feats on the pole vault runway this year. She won two NCAA titles – pole vault indoors, pole vault outdoors – while racking a number of academic awards as well that include SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll member, CoSIDA Academic All-District Team honoree, and a USTFCCCA academic award.
She became the first woman since 2010 to sweep NCAA titles in the pole vault, and the two NCAA titles made her the first woman in LSU history to win a pole vault national title.
Gunnarsson is still up for one more award, the CoSIDA Academic All-America team that will be announced at some point in August. A full release of winners can be viewed at ustfccca.org.