Alexander Lucking was awarded the William L. Lumpkin Track & Field Leadership Award at the University of Richmond.
Alex Lucking, from Greer, was recognized as the senior undergraduate member of the University of Richmond team based on outstanding academic and athletic performance, and citizenship.
The Lumpkin Leadership Award was established in 1997 in memory of former Richmond coach Dr. William L. Lumpkin by University of Richmond alumni on the 1948-49 cross country team that Lumpkin coached.
Lucking is a 2015 Atlantic 10 All Conference honoree in cross country and has served as a team captain the past two years. This winter Lucking ran a personal best 8:16.20 for the 3,000-meter distance in the 2018 IC4A Indoor Championships in Boston. He also placed fifth in the 2015 Collegiate 1/2 Marathon National Championship in Norfolk, Va.
Lucking graduates with the highest GPA among male student-athletes at Richmond and earned Commissioner's Honor Roll Distinction for eight consecutive semesters for achieving greater than a 3.5 GPA. The cross country team earned NCAA All-Academic Team honors each of his four years as the program extended its streak to 16 consecutive years earning the distinction.
"Each year the list of amazing student-athletes to be honored with this award grows as Alex joins this elite group of young men and women," said head men's coach Steve Taylor.
"His leadership for the program, both in and out of competition, has been critical for our growth and his efforts over the past four years to help with recruiting new Spiders has been remarkable,” said Taylor “He played a large part in the recruiting of this year's incoming men's class. We wish him continued success as he looks ahead to graduate school."