A two-time All-American, it comes as no surprise that the arrival of Lisa Welch coincided with a rebirth in Terrier women's track and field glory during the mid 1980s.
While at BU, she excelled in the indoor 3,000 meters (9:18), two-mile (10:16.5) and 5,000 meters (16:36.84), as well as the outdoor 10,000 meters (32:41.9).
She captured eight individual titles at the indoor and outdoor Greater Boston and New England Championships in 1985 and 1986, while aiding the club to the overall team title on five occasions.
After spending her first two years at the University of Virginia, Welch transferred to Boston University, where she competed in cross country, indoor and outdoor track during the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons.
At the 1985 Indoor Greater Boston Championships, Welsh established a meet record in the two-mile run, and later added her name to the list of meet bests in the 1,500 and 3,000 meter at the New England Championships, before concluding the indoor campaign by finishing the 3,000 meters in a school-record 4:25.51 at the Easterns.
When the action moved outdoors, Welch maintained her stellar stride, with a school-record and NCAA-qualifying performance in the 5,000 meters at the Penn Relays.
The following year, Welch competed on the cross country circuit, and after outdistancing the field at the Greater Boston Championships, she became the University's second-ever All-American, by finishing 12th at the NCAA Championships. An abbreviated indoor campaign, witnessed her capture the New England title in the 3,000 qualify for the Eastern and National Championships.
However, as if saving her best for last, Welch concluded her collegiate career with a stellar spring season, highlighted by All-America recognition in the 10,000 meters. In addition, she pocketed the New England titles in the 1,500 and 3,000 and the 5,000 meter prize at the Greater Boston Championships.
In recognition of her efforts, she was presented with the Gretchen Schuyler Award as the University's Outstanding Female Scholar-Athlete.
