William and Mary sophomore Elaina Balouris (Allison Park, Pa.) claimed the first All-American award of her young career Thursday night, finishing 19th overall at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in the 10,000m run.  She completed the 25-lap, six-plus mile race in 34:41.97, the sixth-fastest time in school history, and will be named to the USTFCCCA Honorable Mention All-America team.

The race proved to be one of the fastest in the history of the NCAA meet, with eight of the top-10 finishers running the fastest times ever for that place, and the top four finishers all ranking among the 10 fastest times in NCAA Championships history.  Balouris' time, sixth-fastest in school history, is her third entry onto the Tribe record books among the top-six, and the third-fastest ever run in NCAA competition by a W&M harrier.

Balouris' 2012 season was an outstanding one for the sophomore, with her first All-American nod merely the final feather in a fully-plumed hat.  In her first-ever attempt at the 10,000m in mid-April, Balouris qualified for the Olympic Trials and was just a second off of the school record in 33:56.26.  Three weeks later, she won her first conference title, and handily, running an easy 35:57.92.  At the NCAA East semifinals two weeks ago, Balouris was eighth in 34:29.88.

Her year has also included All-East honors indoors in the 5,000m, and career-bests indoors in the mile and both indoors and outdoors at 5,000m.  Last fall, Balouris was the Tribe's top cross country runner, finishing second at the CAA Championships and ninth at the Southeast Regional, ranking as the first alternate to the NCAA Championships.

With two years still to go in her career in Williamsburg, Balouris joins a distinguished line of sophomore All-Americans in the Green and Gold.  Five-time All-American Marcie Homan '95 earned her first award in the spring of her sophomore year, as did three-time All-American and Olympic Trials semifinalist Emily Anderson '10.  Lisa Rayner '96 was also a sophomore All-American, finishing 11th in the high jump in 1994.

2012 NCAA Women's 10,000m Championship
1. Natosha Rogers (Texas A&M) 32:41.63
2. Aliphine Tuliamuk (Wichita St.) 32:45.43
3. Deborah Maier (Cal) 32:47.20
4. Meaghan Nelson (Iowa St.) 32:47.43
5. Allison Woodward (Oregon) 32:56.94
6. Sarah Wladron (New Mexico) 32:58.84
7. Elvin Kibet (Arizona) 33:02.04
8. Becky Wade (Rice) 33:13.57
...
19. Elaina Balouris (W&M) 34:41.97