ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – NCAA 3,000 meter steeplechase champion Courtney Frerichs is the Mountain West Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. It is the highest award given by the conference each year to a male and female who excels in academics, athletics and community involvement.

The former University of New Mexico Lobo had to maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average to be eligible. She is currently working on her master’s in community health education at UNM and has a 4.16.

Frerichs will get a $2,500 postgraduate scholarship as part of the honor. She also found out Wednesday that she is the conference honoree for the NCAA Women of the Year Award.

Frerichs is part of 141 female student athletes selected. The list will be trimmed to the top 30 by September with a winner selected in October.

Until then, Frerichs is headed to the Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil as part of team USA. Her first competition will be August 13.