The Thomas F. McLaughlin Award is presented annually to the top student-athletes who have excelled in their sport, achieved in the classroom, have been a leader on their team and served their communities. These individuals represent the very best that Mountain Lion student-athlete have to offer.  
 
The 2021-22 UCCS McLaughlin Award winners are Layla Almasri and Afewerki Zeru.

Layla Almasri (R-Junior, Colorado Springs, Colo. / Pine Creek High School)  

2021-22 Outdoor Track & Field Season

• Ranks 7^th on the DII Performance List in the 1500m (4:34.01)
• Ranks 16^th on the DII Performance List in the 5000m (16:31.42)
  • Broke the school record

2021-22 Indoor Track & Field Season

• All-America First Team – DMR (Finished 7^th in 11:32.98)
  • Broke the school record
• All-America First Team – Mile (Finished 8^th in 5:01.07)
• All-America Second Team – 3,000m (Finished 12^th in 9:38.6)
• All-RMAC First Team – Mile
• All-RMAC Second Team – 3,000m
• RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll

 
2021 Cross Country Season

• All-American (Finished 12^th at the NCAA DII National Championship meet in 20:57.9)
• All-South Central Region (Runner-up at the NCAA South Central Regional meet in 20:30.9)
• All-RMAC First Team (Runner-up at the RMAC Championships (21:36.4)
• RMAC All-Academic First Team
• Team Captain

Career Highlights

• 5-Time USTFCCCA All-America First Team
• 3-Time USTFCCCA All-America Second Team
• 10-Time National Qualifier (8x in Track & Field, 2x in Cross Country)
• 7-Time USTFCCCA All-Region (5x in Track & Field, 2x in Cross Country)
• 2020-21 RMAC Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year
• 8-Time RMAC All-Academic (3x First Team, 5x Second Team)
• 12-Time All-RMAC (7x First Team, 5x Second Team)
• UCCS record holder for the DMR (11:32.98), indoor 3000m (9:38.11) and outdoor 5000m (16:31.42)
• 2-Time Team Captain

Afewerki Zeru (Junior, Colorado Springs, Colo. / Rampart High School)
 
2021-22 Outdoor Track & Field Season

• Ranks 4^th on the DII Performance List in the 5000m (13:44.581)
  • Broke the school record
• Ranks 6^th on the DII Performance List in the 10,000m (28:56.20)
  • Broke the school record

2021-22 Indoor Track & Field Season

• All-America First Team – 5000m (Finished 7^th in 13:48.39)
  • Broke the school record
• All-America Second Team – 3000m (Finished 12^th in 8:04.74)
  • Broke the school record
• All-RMAC First Team – 3000m
• All-RMAC First Team – 5000m
• RMAC All-Academic First Team

2021 Cross Country Season

• All-American (Finished 15^th in 30:49.7)
• All-South Central Region (Runner-up in 29:42.2)
• USTFCCCA All-Academic
• All-RMAC First Team (Runner-up in 24:27.1)
• Team Captain

Career Highlights

• 4-Time USTFCCCA All-America First Team
• 1-Time USTFCCCA All-America Second Team
• 3-Time USTFCCCA All-Academic
• 8-Time National Qualifier (5x in Track & Field, 3x in Cross Country)
• 3-Time USTFCCCA All-Region (Cross Country)
• 1-Time RMAC All-Academic First Team
• 9-Time All-RMAC (7x First Team, 2x Second Team)
• UCCS record holder for the indoor 3000 (8:04.74), indoor 5000m (13:48.39), outdoor 5000m (13:48.58.42) and outdoor 10,000 (28:56.2)
• Facility record holder in the 5000m at UCCS, Black Hills State and Western Colorado
• 1-Time 
• 1-Time Team Captain