Feb. 12, 2003

Junior Lauren Collins (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) earned the Mid-American Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week award this week, the conference office announced Wednesday. The award comes four days after she produced the MAC's top 20 lb. weight throw of the year.

Collins took second in the 20 lb. weight throw at the Rod McCravy Memorial hosted by the University of Kentucky on Saturday. Collin's throw of 59'11 1/4" reclaimed the MAC lead to give her the top throws for the MAC in both the shot put and the weight throws. Her three throws in Lexington, Ky. were the number one, three, and eighth longest throws in school history.

Collins also set a Miami indoor shot put record at Cincinnati on Jan. 11. Collins threw the shot put 48'0" and broke her own record of 47'11" that was set during last year's MAC Championship meet.

This is the second career MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week award for Collins after she earned the award for winning the shot put, discus and hammer at the Southern Ohio Cup last year.

She holds a 3.53 GPA in Interdisciplinary Studies, becoming the ninth Miami athlete to earn the award this year.