June 12, 2003

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- -

University of Missouri junior swimmer Molly Christensen (Woodbury, Minn.) has been named to the Verizon Academic All-America? Women's At-Large Third Team, as voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directions of America (CoSIDA).

Christensen currently holds a cumulative GPA of 4.00 in biology/pre-med. Her highlights from this past season include two top-five finishes in the 1,000 freestyle, including a career best time of 10:48.80 against Truman State. She had two top-five finishes in the 200 butterfly. She competed in four individual events at the Minnesota Invite, setting season's bests in three of the events.

Academically she is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection. This season she was one of only five 2003 Academic All-Big 12 recipients with a 4.00 GPA. She also became only the second Tiger athlete honored as an CoSIDA Academic All-American this season joining men's swimmer Matt Ferrarelli, who was a member of the Men's At-Large Second Team.

"She's very deserving of this honor," said women's swimming and diving Head Coach Brian Hoffer. "She's a hard worker and encompasses what a student-athlete should be."

The Verizon Academic All-America Teams program recognizes student-athletes who have succeeded on the field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected by votes from CoSIDA, the 1,800-member College Sports Information Directors of America. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Since the program's inception in 1952, over 12,000 student-athletes have been honored with the award.

Under an agreement with CoSIDA, Verizon has been the exclusive sponsor of the Academic All-America program since 1985.