RICHMOND, Ky. - Senior cross country/track athlete Sarah Blossom has been named GTE District IV Women's Fall/Winter Sports At-Large Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Blossom, a native of Indianapolis, IN, who has compiled a 4.00 GPA in occupational therapy with a minor in psychology, has now won this award four times and has three times been chosen to GTE Academic All-America national teams.

"Sarah is just so completely focused and committed to excelling in both athletics and academics that this carries her to the pinnacle in both areas. She wants to do well and has been able to continue her successful collegiate experience by giving it everything she has in the classroom and in her athletics participation opportunities," said EKU head track and cross country coach Rick Erdmann.

Blossom is a three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference cross country team member and was named OVC Female Cross Country Runner of the Year in 1995. She has also won numerous OVC indoor and outdoor track individual championships in the 3000, 5000 and 10,000 meter runs at the conference championship meets.

Blossom has also received the OVC Academic Medal of Honor three times which signifies the athlete with the highest GPA in that particular sport for an academic year, in addition to being named to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll three times.

Other academic honors for Blossom include being selected as a Presidential Scholar and an EKU Colonel Scholar for four years each and being named to the Dean's List four years.

Her busy schedule also includes memberships in Pi Theta Epsilon Honor Society, the Student Occupational Therapy Association and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also is president of the campus' Habitat for Humanity and has participated in the Jail Ministries Service Project.

To be nominated, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or higher. Team members are selected by a vote of members of CoSIDA in the five-state, District IV area of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama.

Blossom's name will now appear on the national ballot for the 1999 national GTE Academic All-America Women's Fall/Winter Sports At-Large Team to be announced April 22.