GREENWOOD, Ind. -- Guided by their combined efforts both in and out of the classroom, Monica Lannen and Zoe Stauffer secured CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades as the Christopher Newport track & field standouts were celebrated on Friday afternoon by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
 
With her award, Stauffer earned the prestigious honor for the second straight year, placing her in elite company. She joined Christopher Newport Athletics Hall of Fame inductees Casey Taylor (1998-99, 1999-00) and Aimee Gibbs (2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04) as the only athletes in program history to earn the accolade more than once.
 
Meanwhile, Lannen added her first CoSIDA honor to an ever-growing list of academic awards. In the fall, the senior star was celebrated as a USTFCCCA National Scholar-Athlete for the fourth straight year following a tremendous season as a member of the cross country team.
 
In addition to their individual efforts, Lannen and Stauffer also made history together. They became the first pair of teammates on the women's track & field team to earn the award in the same season.
 
Overall, Lannen and Stauffer were two of the 12 honorees from District 5, which includes student-athletes from 11 different states ranging from Virginia to Florida to Missouri. They are now eligible to receive Academic All-American honors, which will be decided through a national vote and announced on June 23.
 
A dominant figure in the distance events, Lannen polished off her career with eight league championships, marking the second-highest total by a Captain since the program joined the Capital Athletic Conference. Two of her titles came during the 2020 indoor campaign after snatching the 800 and 4x400-relay crowns while helping lead Christopher Newport to the team championship.
 
In addition to her stardom on the conference level, Lannen earned seven All-Region honors for her work in track & field while also qualifying for the 2020 Indoor National Championships in the mile. Additionally, she was an All-State honoree as a middle-distance runner during her senior season.
 
Equally successful as a member of the cross country team, Lannen concluded her tenure as a three-time All-Conference selection and a two-time All-Region pick for her efforts in the fall. Guided by her work this year, she helped the Captains claim their first team title since 2015 after placing fourth overall at the league meet.
 
A native of Reston, Virginia, Lannen is a perennial Academic All-Conference selection and Dean's List honoree for her efforts as a management and marketing major.
 
One of the program's most versatile contributors, Stauffer has starred in the combined events during her time in Newport News. A four-time All-Region selection, she continued her decorated efforts during the 2020 campaign. For the second straight year, she brought home All-South / Southeast plaudits in the pentathlon after ranking third in the region with a season-best score of 2,595.
 
In addition to her work in the pentathlon, Stauffer was also an All-Region selection in both the heptathlon and javelin as a sophomore in 2019. During that campaign, she ranked first in the South / Southeast in the heptathlon with a score of 4,138 while also laying claim to her first career conference title after winning the javelin during the CAC Outdoor Championships.
 
Flashing her well-rounded skill set, Stauffer has scored points in four different disciplines at league competitions over the past three years. In addition to her victory in the javelin during the 2019 outdoor meet, she has also finished among the conference's top competitors in the 60-hurdles, 100-hurdles, and long jump.
 
A native of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, Stauffer is a cellular, molecular, and physiological biology major at Christopher Newport.
 
---ISH---