HIGH POINT, N.C. - Leah Hanle of the women's cross country/track & field teams has been named the Conference Carolinas Female Athlete of the Year for 2018-19, the Conference announced today. Hanle becomes the first UMO athlete to win the Female Athlete of the Year since Samantha Mitchell (Women's Volleyball) in 2007-08.
"We are so excited and grateful that Leah has earned this honor. She is an extremely hardworking and diligent young lady. She has proven to be elite on the track and in the classroom," said Associate Head Coach/Head Cross Country Coach Jackie Kirby.
Hanle, a psychology major from Lichtenstein, Germany, collected numerous accolades during her junior campaign. Hanle was a member of three Conference Carolinas championship teams in 2018-19 with the UMO women's cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field teams.
During the cross country season, Hanle earned All-America honors by finishing seventh at the NCAA Division II National Championship. Hanle was named the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Runner of the Year, USTFCCCA NCAA Division II All-Region and first team All-Conference Carolinas. Hanle took third place at the conference championship before winning the southeast regional for a third consecutive year.
Hanle continued her success during the indoor season, picking up First-Team All-America honors in the 3000-meter run (3rd-place) and 5000-meter run (3rd-place) at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships. Hanle would win the Conference Carolinas Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, also her third consecutive, after taking titles in the 5000-meter run and 800-meter, while finishing second in the mile run.
Hanle finished the year with her outdoor season, picking up First-Team All-America honors in the 10,000-meter run (2nd-place) and 5000-meter run (3rd-place). Hanle was named the Division II Women's Outdoor Southeast Region Track Athlete of the Year by USTFCCCA after earning All-Region honors in the 5,000m, 10,000m, and steeplechase.
The junior is a 14-time All-American between cross country, indoor & outdoor track and field and is the record holder in the 5k (XC), 3000m (I&OTF), 5000m (I&OTF), 10000m (OTF). She also won the Outstanding Female Student-Athlete Award at the UMO Trojan Globes early this year.