LeDuc named as national Academic All-America

Canton’s Mike LeDuc races in the steeplechase at the NCAA Div. III championship meet in May 2013.

Canton’s Michael LeDuc, who graduated from Connecticut College in May, was named to the Capital One Academic All-America team for Division III men’s track and field/cross country. He was selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) organization.

LeDuc was also selected as the national Academic All-America award winner for cross country and outdoor track.

A botany major with a 3.80 grade-point average, LeDuc earned Academic All-America honors for the third time. He was a first-team honoree last year and third-team honoree in 2012.

LeDuc won three NCAA championships during his career, winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase crowns in both 2013 and 2014 and the cross country national championship in 2013.

A nine-time All-American in cross country and track and field, LeDuc was named as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national athlete of the year in men’s cross country in 2013. This spring, LeDuc won the men’s steeplechase title at the NCAA Division III outdoor track championship meet with the third-fastest time in Division III history (8:45.77).

“This is another in a long line of well-deserved awards for Mike,” said Jim Butler, head coach for cross country at Connecticut College and the associate outdoor track coach. “It is a fitting tribute to him at the close of his career here that he has been named Capital One CoSIDA’s Academic All-America of the Year in cross country/track and field. During his four years as a Camel, he was an outstanding representative of Connecticut College, and he continues to make his alma mater proud.”