University of Vermont Athletics

Celeste J. Leon 1987 - Cross Country

A winner of the Wasson Athletic Prize signifying athletic and academic excellence, Celeste Leon, inducted into the UVM Hall of Fame in 2001, was a dominant runner in New England in the mid-1980's and a tremendous student-athlete as well.

An unprecedented four-time MVP of the women's cross country team, Leon captained the team as a junior and senior while going on a run of championship performances that was impressive as well as inspirational. In her final two years at Vermont, Leon was the top Catamount finisher in every cross-country race. She was named All-New England three of her four years of competing, and also was three-time New England track and field champion.

As a freshman, she was Vermont's top runner in the Vermont State Meet, New England Championships and NCAA Qualifier, finishing 17th in New Englands and 29th at NCAA's. In 1985, Leon won the 10,000-meters at the New England Outdoor Championships in a personal best time of 36:01, and in 1986 she successfully defended that title at UVM's Archie Post Field.

But the way she defended her title is the real story here. Leon, the defending 10,000-meter New England champion, was coasting along through 5, 00 meters when she heard something pop. "I knew something was wrong," Coach Ed Kusiak said. "She wasn't smiling. Celeste always runs with a smile on her face." It turned out Leon had broken her foot. After the race, the injured foot was put in a cast. "That was really something," Kusiak said. "To continue running - and to win the event - well, that's a special person. And a special athlete." Not only did Leon win the 10,000-meter New England championship for the second straight year, she also set a new Archie Post Field record as well. In 1987, competing in the New England Indoor Championships, Leon finished second in the 5,000-meters in a time of 17:49.78.

Leon also won the Senior Class Special Leadership Recognition Award from the School of Allied Health Services. She was selected for Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges in July of 1987, and was a finalist in Time Magazine's College Achievement Awards in the fall of 1985.