Seattle Pacific University Athletics

SEATTLE – While recovering from a major foot injury, Suzie Strickler had to take a break from competitive running. But the Seattle Pacific senior never took a break from the classroom, maintaining her nearly-perfect grade-point average as an exercise science major.

Strickler now has been honored both for her academic work and for her comeback on the cross country trails when she was presented with the NCAA Elite 88 award last Saturday in Evansville, Ind.

The award, which is in its first year, honors the student athlete with the highest cumulative GPA at each of the NCAA’s 88 championships. Strickler’s is about as high as it gets: 3.99.

“I didn’t even know (the award) existed until they were announcing it,” said Strickler (Richland, Wash./Richland HS). “I thought, ‘Maybe, because I have a pretty high GPA.’ But then I thought, ‘Nah, it wouldn’t be me.’ I was surprised when they called my name.”

In addition to the GPA, student-athletes must take part in the national championship event for their sport to be eligible. The award will be given to one participant at each of the NCAA's 88 championships throughout the year.

Last Saturday at the NCAA Division II nationals in Evansville, Ind., Strickler was the second Seattle Pacific runner across the finish line, taking 46th overall among the 184 runners in the field. She finished her 6-kilometer run in 22 minutes, 11.5 seconds, helping the Falcons earn the fourth-place team trophy.

Strickler’s performance at nationals capped a comeback from a foot injury that she suffered during the summer of 2008 while on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. That cost Strickler what would have been her senior season in both cross country and track.

In the meantime, she continued her academic pursuits, but acknowledged that it wasn’t always easy.

“It was a little more of a challenge staying focused on schoolwork because of the emotional energy (of dealing with the injury),” Strickler said. “But I had a goal, and I have high standards in terms of academics and in terms of what I expect myself to do. I wasn’t going to let myself slide back in class. That wasn’t an option.”

Strickler decided last spring to come back for a final cross country season, saving one final class for this fall in order to be eligible to compete. Now, with the season finished and her exercise science degree all but officially a done deal, she’s ready to see where the next step takes her.

“There are many different things I can do with that – possibly some type of therapy, maybe go into research a little bit,” Strickler said. “There are a lot of possibilities out there.”