NEW ORLEANS --- Tusculum University distance runner Nicole McMillen has been named to the 2019 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-Academic Team.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic award, student-athletes must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have reached a provisional or automatic qualifying standard for the NCAA Championships in either the indoor or outdoor season.
The Pickering, Ontario native graduated from Tusculum last May with a 3.92 GPA while majoring in business 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.
She earned All-American honors in the steeplechase as she finished sixth at the NCAA II National Championship in Kingsville, Texas becoming the first TU female track & field All-American in program history. She has also earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in the steeplechase, 1,500 meter and 5,000 meter runs.
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.
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 last fall, 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 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-America® track & field first team in June, after being selected to the Academic All-America® women's soccer second team last fall.
She is also 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.
