With focus both on the field and in the classroom, the College of Staten Island’s sophomore cross country star Lisa Lamanna has been awarded Hospital for Special Surgery/City University of New York Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Month for October 2008. After being named CUNYAC Rookie of the Year in 2007, Lamanna was named 2008 CUNYAC Runner of the Year after finishing second place in the CUNYAC Championships.
Her accomplishments this season have been nothing shy of grand. On October 5th, she took second place in the Brooklyn College Invitational with a solid time of 26.15. The following week at the CSI Invitational, the Susan Wagner High School product marked a time of 20:33.91 in the 5K run, just .72 seconds behind the first place winner. In the York Invitational on October 19, the sophomore completed with a time of 20:54.66, putting her in first place amongst CUNYAC runners but second overall. Lamanna helped the Dolphins to a second place overall win in the CUNYAC Championships on October 26th, after CSI’s second year as a CUNY team. Lamanna, herself, took 2nd place, capturing her best time in the 6K run at 25:26.2.
When it comes to the books, the Biology major shines with a 3.972 GPA. As for future plans, Lamanna wants to be a gastroenterologist doctor.
“I know it’s cliché but I really feel honored,” Lamanna humbly said when she heard the news of her achievement, “it’s awesome to be recognized for something like this.”
Despite it only being his first season coaching, head coach Jon Lewis Biles sees a lot in Lamanna. “Personality wise, she is competitive and hardworking and completely modest-that’s a rare combo. With that kind of personality not only will she be successful in school and cross country but with everything in life.”
Besides her passion for cross country, she has another outdoor passion; volunteering at the Staten Island Zoo. The animal lover got to hold chinchilla’s while informing children and other visitors at the zoo about the animal.
“She was also our team captain this year and that took a lot of responsibility,” noted Biles, “she had to juggle a lot and managed to make it to every practice and meet. You couldn’t ask for a better runner to coach.”
The key to her success: “my planner and sticky note pads. I’ve got this great planner that works wonders, I just write down everything I need to do and I make sure I get it done.”