University of Richmond Athletics
Lucking Named William L. Lumpkin Leadership Award Honoree
05/22/2018 | Cross Country
The William L. Lumpkin Track & Field Leadership Award is awarded to a senior undergraduate member of the University of Richmond track & field team based on outstanding academic and athletic performance, and citizenship.
The Lumpkin Leadership Award was established in 1997 in memory of former Richmond coach Dr. William L. Lumpkin by University of Richmond alumni on the 1948-49 cross country team that Lumpkin coached.Â
The 2018 recipient is Alexander Lucking (Greer, SC) an outstanding distance runner for the Spiders. Lucking is a 2015 Atlantic 10 All Conference honoree in cross country and has served as a team captain the past two years. He's been a top five runner for the Spiders since his freshman year.  This winter Alex ran a personal best 8:16.20 for the 3,000M distance in the 2018 IC4A Indoor Championships in Boston. He also placed fifth in the 2015 Collegiate 1/2 Marathon National Championship in Norfolk, VA.
Along with outstanding athletic achievement, Lucking excelled in the classroom. He graduates with the highest GPA among male student-athletes here at the University of Richmond and he has earned Commissioner's Honor Roll Distinction for eight consecutive semesters for achieving greater than a 3.5 GPA. Additionally, while a member of the Spiders cross country team he helped them earn NCAA All-Academic Team honors each of his four years as the program extended its streak to sixteen consecutive years earning the distinction.
"Each year the list of amazing student-athletes to be honored with this award grows as Alex joins this elite group of young men and women", said Head Men's Coach Steve Taylor. "His leadership for the program, both in and out of competition, has been critical for our growth and his efforts over the past four years to help with recruiting new Spiders has been remarkable. He played a large part in the recruiting of this year's incoming men's class. We wish him continued success as he looks ahead to graduate school."