Lemon receives Patriot League Female Sportsmanship Award

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Recently graduated Lehigh track and field standout E'Lana Lemon has been recognized with the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award, announced Monday. One of two winners during the 2012-13 academic year (one male, one female), Lemon is Lehigh's first honoree since 2010-11, when women's lacrosse standout Lauren Dykstra won the women's award.

Lemon is the seventh Lehigh student-athlete to receive the award. Other previous Lehigh winners include Joe Knight (2005-06), Robby Walsh (2006-07), Bryan White (2007-08), Geoff Campbell (2008-09), Melissa Rich (2008-09), and Dykstra (2010-11).

The Patriot League Sportsmanship Awards are in their eighth year after being created to honor student-athletes that uphold the principles on which the league was founded – females, equality, and excellence in academics and athletics. The awards are open to all Patriot League student-athletes and each of the eight Patriot League institutions is eligible to nominate a male and female for the award.

Lehigh leads the way with seven all-time honorees. The recipients are chosen by the league's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Lemon has been the epitome of a standout performer on the field. She established a new league record with 14 career Female Field Athlete of the Week awards, making her the most decorated athlete in school and conference history. She also earned the Distinguished Achievement Award at Lehigh's annual end-of-year Convocation Program.

The West Orange, N.J., native earned five All-Patriot League honors in her career. Lemon won the weight throw at the 2013 Patriot League Indoor Championships to earn first team laurels, and was a second team All-League performer in the 2011 and 2012 indoor seasons, and the 2012 and 2013 outdoor seasons in the hammer throw. She earned All-East honors in 2013 in both the indoor season for the weight throw and the outdoor season for the hammer, and competed in the hammer throw at the NCAA East Regional last month.

Lemon set six consecutive personal records in the weight throw during the indoor season. After winning the Patriot League title, Lemon set her sights on becoming the benchmark athlete in the hammer throw.

Her continued success on the outdoor fields set personal and school records in two out of three hammer competitions. Despite this effort, teammate Jimil Ataman passed Lemon's mark by nearly six feet. Her sportsmanship towards teammates, and opponents, has not gone unnoticed. She is a true competitor, but also takes time to congratulate her opposition. Lemon was also recently named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, posting a perfect 4.0 majoring in English in the spring semester.

Lemon's sportsmanship also extended to League opponents and rivals. She was edged out in the hammer throw by an opponent from rival Lafayette during a competition, and when the time came to meet her challenger, Lemon greeted her with a smile and a hug.

“E'Lana Lemon is a woman whom I consider one of the finest competitors and class act student-athletes I've coached,” said Lehigh head track and field coach Matt Utesch. “She is an intrinsically motivated athlete who pushes herself far harder than any coach could ask.”

Lemon and the Men's Sportsmanship Award Winner, Navy tennis player Nicholas Gutsche, will now be forwarded on to the NCAA to be considered for the national sportsmanship honor.

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Lemon receives Patriot League Female Sportsmanship Award

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