AUSTIN, Texas --- Tusculum University distance runner Nicole McMillen has been named to the 2018-19 Google Cloud NCAA Division II Academic All-America ® Women's Cross Country / Track & Field first team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
McMillen becomes the fourth cross country / track & field Academic All-American® in program history joining Heather Rhoton (2000), Sarah Alston (2007) and two-time honoree Jenny Grant (2012, 2013).
McMillen also becomes the first Tusculum student-athlete in school history to earn Academic All-America® accolades in two different sports after garnering Academic All-America® honors in soccer last fall.
The Pickering, Ontario native graduated from Tusculum in May with a 3.92 cumulative grade point average while majoring in sport management. She is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, Tusculum Athletic Director Roll, Dean's List, President's List and Charles Oliver Gray Honors List.
The multi-sport athlete has competed in track & field for two seasons, while also being a member of the Tusculum women's soccer and cross country teams. McMillen was named the 2019 SAC Women's Outdoor Championship Track Athlete of the Meet after earning gold in three events: 3,000 meter steeplechase, 1,500 meter, and 5,000 meter runs.
Her first place mark in the steeplechase was the first time a Tusculum female student-athlete garnered a gold medal finish at the SAC Outdoor Championship. She was also the top finisher in the mile at the 2019 SAC Indoor Track & Field Championship.
She earned All-American honors in the steeplechase as she finished sixth at last week's NCAA II National Championship in Kingsville, Texas becoming the first TU female track & field All-American in program history. She has also earned All-Region honors in the steeplechase, 1,500 meter and 5,000 meter runs.
During her four seasons on the TU women's soccer team, she started in 68 matches as a defender where she amassed one goal and 12 assists. During her senior campaign, she led the Pioneers with eight assists which were tied for the second-most in the conference and 47th in the nation. She helped Tusculum to an 8-7-3 record and a sixth place showing in the league standings.
When she completed her soccer career, she transitioned to the cross country team in time to compete at the SAC Championships where she finished fifth in her inaugural collegiate meet and earn All-SAC first team honors. She also placed fifth at the NCAA II Southeast Region Championship and punched her ticket to the NCAA Nationals in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There she finished 59th which is the top national championship finish by a Tusculum cross country runner.
She was named to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America® women's soccer second team and the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Scholar Team. She is a member of the 2018 USTFCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team and has earned spots on the Academic All-District first team for both women's soccer and cross country/track & field (2018, 2019).
In May, she was tabbed the 2018-2019 Tusculum University Female Athlete of the Year.
The Google Cloud Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2018-19 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA Google Cloud Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office.
2018-19 Google Cloud NCAA II Women's Academic All-America® Cross Country / Track & Field Team
First Team
Sarah Berger, Grand Valley State
Jena Black, Pittsburg State
Madeline Campbell, Mississippi College
Chloe Cook, Colorado School of Mines
Katherine Ferrara, Merrimack
Karlie Garcia, Chico State
Lauren Huebner, Saginaw Valley State
Alicja Konieczek, Western Colorado
Caroline Kurgat, Alaska Anchorage
Haven Lander, Pittsburg State
Nicole McMillen, Tusculum
Courtney Nelson, Pittsburg State
Rachel Ray, Missouri Southern
Skylyn Webb, UC-Colorado Springs
Megan Wenham, Colorado School of Mines
Olivia Woods, Western Oregon
Second Team
Athina Amanor, Spring Hill
Renea Ambersley, Lincoln
Alicia Belko, California (Pa.)
Elena Bisotto, Missouri Southern State
Devanique Brown, San Francisco State
Addison Cantor, Florida Southern
Emma Driggers, Francis Marion
Hannah Flemming, Florida Southern
Arianna Fuentes, Cal State San Bernardino
Madison Goen, Grand Valley State
Hanna Groeber, Grand Valley State
Leah Hanle, Mount Olive
Stephanie Mattson, Bentley
Brianna Schmitz, Emporia State
Third Team
Chelsea Bone, Concordia-Portland
Nicole Bouma, Colorado State-Pueblo
Diana Cauldwell, Lincoln
Lauren Fairchild, Colorado State-Pueblo
Carly Gregas, East Stroudsburg
Carley Hale, Southern Arkansas
Shayla Huebner, Northern Michigan
Julia Lockridge, Tampa
Rachel Meyers, Oklahoma Christian
Piper Misse, Pittsburg State
Lucie Noall, Queens (N.C.)
Gina Patterson, Grand Valley State
Hailey Streff, Colorado State-Pueblo
Eileen Stressling, Azusa Pacific
Rebekah White, Carson-Newman
Sarah Wilder, Georgia College
Academic All-American® of the Year: Alicja Konieczek, Western Colorado