3 from Lobo track are Academic All-Americans
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Three runners from the New Mexico track and field program earned Academic All-America accolades for the 2023 season, announced by Collegiate Sports Communicators on Wednesday.
Amelia Mazza-Downie and Gracelyn Larkin were first-team Academic All-America selections, and Stefanie Parsons was a second-team selection. The trio was among nine Lobos who were named to the CSC academic all-district team earlier this month.
Recently named the Mountain West Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year, Mazza-Downie earned All-America status in both the 10,000 meters and 5,000 meters this spring. The third-year Lobo placed fourth at the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 meters, running a time of 32:51.90 minutes to earn first-team All-America, and ninth in the 5,000 meters with a time of 15:56.35 minutes to earn second-team All-America.
Mazza-Downie was the Mountain West champion in the 5,000 meters, and broke Weini Kelati’s school record in the 10,000 meters with a time of 32:07.62 minutes on April 15. She maintained a 3.70 GPA while studying psychology.
Also a two-time All-American during the 2023 season, Larkin placed 14th at the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 meters with a time of 34:00.22 minutes and 15th in the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:08.22 minutes to earn second-team in both events. She also finished as the Mountain West runner-up in the 5,000 meters, running a time of 16:03.44 minutes at the conference championships. Larkin is an exercise science major who holds a 3.85 GPA.
Parsons completed her collegiate career by winning the Mountain West title in the 1,500 meters, with a time of 4:17.17 minutes. She also posted personal bests of 2:07.62 minutes in the 800 meters at the conference championships, and 4:13.46 minutes in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA West Preliminary Championships. Parsons carried a 3.94 GPA while studying exercise science.
The three Academic All-America awards are the most in a single season for the Lobo women’s track and field program, and UNM has now had eight women’s Academic All-America award recipients.