Flushing , NY --- Kingsborough Community College All-American runner Zenia George has been named the CUNY Athletic Conference / Hospital for Special Surgery Community College Scholar-Athlete of the Month, for September, 2011. George, a sophomore majoring in Community Health & Gerontology, sports a 3.53 grade point average in her studies as she prepares to graduate next semester.
“Zenia is the absolute definition of a student-athlete,” claimed Wave head Cross Country coach Dave Loobie. “She always puts her studies first. She is a leader by example and the younger runners definitely take her cue.”
George, who was KCC’s best women’s cross country runner last season won a medal in her first CUNYAC Championship event, placing 15th with an outstanding 27.44 time. This season, she improved on her top five kilometer time from 2010 of 21:34 with a 21:00 mark in early September on the same course, Van Cortlandt Park. By the end of the first month of the season, George was down to a 20:54 on the 3.1 mile/5 kilometer course. Loobie’s team is currently ranked 9th in NJCAA Division III.
Last Spring, George really made her mark at the NJCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, becoming a National Champion in the Women’s 4 x 800 Meter Relay with teammates Tia Gardner, Charlene Jackson and Deandra Nelson. The quartet raced home in 10:08.59, just over 11 seconds in front of second place. Also, George captured her own individual silver medal for second place in the Javelin Throw.
“Zenia doesn’t just walk around campus, she is constantly jogging,” said KCC Athletic Director Damani Thomas, a former All-American runner at Hunter College. “She is one of the few student-athletes that heads to the library after practice. Whatever she puts her mind into, Zenia succeeds at it. This year she wants to finish in the top ten at Nationals and she is well on her way to that goal.”