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Duits Killed in Car Accident
Duits Killed in Car Accident
GUNNISON, Colo. - Lisa Thomas Duits, a 2009 graduate of Western
State College, former cross country captain and 2009 NCAA Division
II runner-up in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, died in a car crash
early Saturday morning.
After graduation, Duits had been assisting the cross country team
this fall while continuing her training and becoming a member
of the Adidas Boulder Running Company club team. She married 2009
Western State graduate Zachary Duits this past September.
Duits earned the Paul Wright Award in 2009 as Western State's top
female senior student-athlete. She led the women's cross country
team to a podium finish in 2008, was the RMAC champion in the
steeplechase in 2009 and finished her career with the program's
third-fastest time in the steeplechase. She earned six All-RMAC
honors last season between cross country and indoor and outdoor
track and field.
Duits graduated Summa Cum Laude with a double-major in physical
education and exercise science. She was a Dean's List student every
semester and earned the Ernest Degutis Scholarship in the Exercise
and Sport Science program in 2007.
Counseling services are available tonight, Sunday evening, at 6
p.m. on the second floor of the Student Center in Ute Hall.
Memorial services are still pending.
