Luecht Earns 2010 Jean Williams Award

By Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior track and field athlete Jennifer Luecht (Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) was named the 2010 Jean Williams Award winner at the ninth annual Athletic Awards Night. Luecht excelled both on and off the track during her career at WU.

The Jean Williams Award recognizes a senior female student-athlete who exemplifies and demonstrates outstanding leadership, scholarship and athleticism.

For her work in the classroom, Luecht was recognized as a four-time Academic All-Conference and four-time Academic All-America selection. She spent one semester studying abroad in Angers, France.

On campus, Luecht worked as a manager at the Bistro, served as an Opening Days leader and was on the hall house of representatives.

But it was Luechts achievements on the track that set her apart. She has been one of the most accomplished athletes that Willamette track and field has ever seen.

Luecht won four Northwest Conference titles in the 200-meter dash. She is the first female in the history of the NWC to win an individual championship four times in the same running event.

She leaves Willamette with 10 conference championships and a school record as part of the 4 x 400-meter relay. She has earned All-Conference honors thirteen times and All-America honors once. She was one of two athletes selected for the NWC Womens Athlete of the Meet Award in 2010.

At the 2010 NWC Championships, she won the 200-meter dash in 25.36 seconds and took first place in the 400-meter dash in 57.30 seconds. Her time in the 400 was an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying mark. She also helped WU win the 4 x 400-meter relay in 4:01.88.

Four other female student-athletes were nominees for the Jean Williams Award. They were Hilary Andrus (rowing), Jessica McGraw (volleyball), Gwen Schulze (swimming) and Nicole Wallace (softball).