May 6, 2003

Marist College graduate student Liza Grudzinski (Branford, Conn.) earned the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women's Most Outstanding Performer for track events winning both the 3K and 5K at the MAAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships the weekend of May 3rd-4th. She was also named to the MAAC All-Academic Teams for both indoor and outdoor track and field, which solidifies her as being an outstanding student-athlete.

This outstanding performer recently broke the school record in the 10K at the Penn Relays, finishing 21st overall. She finished with a time of 36:29.95, breaking the old school record of 36:43.79, which was set last season.

Grudzinski was consistent this past indoor season as well. At the Fordham Invitational, she finished second in the 5000- meter run with a time of 17:59.12, then later broke her own record at the Terrier Classic by 4.7 seconds, placing 17th out of 39 competitors with a time of 17:24.14 in the 5000-meter race. At the Greater Boston Track Club Invitational, she had a time of 10:08.00, placing her fourth among the field of 44 competitors.

Grudzinski is a four-time MAAC champion and is among the top runners in the Northeast. She currently holds five school records, setting new marks in the 3,000 (Outdoor/Indoor), 5,000 (Indoor/Outdoor), and the 10,000 (Outdoor). She was also the ECAC Female Track Athlete of the Week for her performance at the Indoor MAAC Championship, where she won both the 3000-meter and 5000-meter races this past season.

Off the track, Grudzinski excels in the classroom as she is working towards a Masters in Psychology/Special Education and is a member of the 2003 MAAC Women's Outdoor Track and Field All-Academic Team. To receive such a distinction, honorees must be in their second year of residence at a college institution, and have a grade point average of at least a 3.20.

Grudzinski and the Red Foxes will be back in action Saturday, May 10th when they compete at the Albany Invitational.