Queensborough Community College sophomore track and field runner Lisa Kurner, a 2010 All-American was selected to jump start the new year as the Hospital for Special Surgery / CUNYAC Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Month for January 2011.
An international student, from Osaka, Japan, Kurner boats an incredible 3.947 grade point average and is due to graduate from Queensborough this summer with an associate degree in liberal arts.
"I visited NYC during my high school years and I knew I wanted to study here," said Kurner, lived in Osaka until she was 18. "Hopefully in the fall I will be studying in a four-year college. I'm considering about Baruch College, Queens College or SUNY's Fashion Institute of Technology."
Last month, at the Army Carleton Crowell Open in West Point, NY, she ran a 2:44 leg of the Tigers' 4x800 Meter Relay that broke last year's school record time (11:37.04) in the team's first meet after the holiday break. In the final meet of the month at the Boston Terrier Indoor Classic on January 28, Kurner ran a career personal best 67.14 in the 400 Meter Dash.
Last spring, she became an All-American with three of her Tigers’ teammates at the NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, as the foursome finished second in the 4x400 Meter Relay, coming home with National silver medals.
The experience last spring at Nationals was pretty awesome for Kurner. “It all happened very quickly, but each one of us ran our very best and the result proved our dedication and talent. I'd never received an award like this and it was truly exciting and rewarding. My teammates were the first people I got to know when I first moved here and we bonded very quickly. I see them almost every day and I know I will miss them a lot once I graduate QCC.”
“Lisa is the first athlete in my twelve years coaching, to earn All American Honors as an athlete and receive Academic All American in the same season,” said QCC head coach Chris Omeltchenko. “I am impressed with her success because Lisa was never on any athletic team in her high school career. She never ran cross country or track before last year. Success has given her more confidence to train more.”
“I simply enjoy running and learning so I give 100% of my effort to training,” continued Kurner. “Training for track is like a time out from studying and it refreshes my mind. It motivates me even more to study after training. We are also very supportive of each other and coach understands the need for us to balance school, work and track.”
As far as post-graduate goals, Kurner is interested in business management and also considering getting involved in the children's clothing industry.