Skieresz wins Honda Award

Amy Skieresz Arizona Daily Wildcat

"No, not by any means," said Skieresz, a sophomore. "It obviously takes a lot of work every day at practice to win an award (like this)."

Skieresz is the recipient of the Honda Award for women's Division I cross country.

"It's a great honor," Skieresz said.

The Honda Awards are handed ot annually to the top woman in each of the 11 Division I sports. Skieresz capped an undefeated cross country season by winning the NCAA title in November.

"She's the finest runner in the country," UA cross country head coach Dave Murray said. "I'd have been more shocked if she didn't win. I mean, she won the title and all."

Skieresz's cross country title, was an Arizona first for male or female competitors. She is, however, the fourth Arizona athlete to win a Honda Award, following softball players Susie Parra (1994) and Jenny Dalton (1996), and golfer Marisa Baena in 1996.

"Obviously it's a great honor," Murray said. "It's one of the most prestigious awards on the women's (athletes) side."

After two titles and now a national award, one has to wonder whether Skieresz could have expected such success in just her second year of collegiate competition.

"No, being a sophomore I still feel kind of new at all of this," she said. "It's all sort of unreal."

Skieresz has lost only once during this spring's track and field season, where she typically competes in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs. Last week at the Sun Angel Invitational in Tempe she came in sixth in the 1,500m, an event she rarely runs.

"I was more angry with my race personally rather than finishing sixth," she said.

The track team will again be in Tempe this weekend for a three-way meet with Arizona State and Northern Arizona. The next Tucson meet is not until May 10 for the Arizona Elite Classic, the final home meet of the season.

Skieresz is now eligible for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Award. Last year's winner was Connecticut basketball player Jennifer Rizzotti.

The announcement of the winner will be made at a banquet next January.