June 4, 2009
IOWA CITY, IA — University of Iowa Head Women’s Track and Cross Country Coach Layne Anderson has announced the addition of graduate student Megan Lessard to the list of signees for the 2009-10 season.
A recent graduate of Columbia University, Lessard will join the Hawkeyes this fall to complete her final season of eligibility, while working toward a Master’s degree in the College of Public Health. She completed an outstanding year for the Lions, placing 58th at the 2008 NCAA Cross Country Championships after qualifying as an individual. She carried that success over to the track and field seasons, winning Ivy League titles in the mile (4:46.60) and 1,500 meters (4:23.01). Lessard also showed tremendous range with her NCAA regional qualifying mark in the 5000 meters – a lifetime best of 16:22.22. She graduated from Manchester Central High School in New Hampshire, where she was a two-time state champion over 800 meters and won the indoor state 1,000 meters as a senior. She recently completed her undergraduate degree from Columbia University with an emphasis in Women’s Studies.
“We are excited to add an individual of Megan’s caliber to our group,” explained Anderson. “She will be a major contributor toward our team goal of a fourth consecutive NCAA appearance in 2009, and has the ability to compete with the top runners at the Big Ten and NCAA levels. With our outstanding group of returners and two talented freshmen signed in February, Megan adds all-America potential to our program and solidifies a very talented distance group for the Hawkeyes.”
Lessard joins eight other signees for 2009-10. The recruiting class includes multi-event competitor Missy Miller (Tipton, IA), high jumpers Megan Glisar (Sergeant Bluff, IA) and Eva Greenwalt (Fitchberg, WI), distance runners Megan Ranegar (Valparaiso, IN) and Sarah Boyd (Dunrobin, Ontario), thrower Ashlyn Gulvas (Pinconning, MI), sprinter and jumper Emily Moore (Gillette, WY) and sprinter Raven Moore (Riverdale, GA).