Fighting Irish teams look to return to the top of the BIG EAST and make a splash on national level in 2012.
2012 Cross Country Season:Competed in one meet during the cross country season ... ran for the Irish at the season-opening Crusader Invitational (5K).
AS A FRESHMAN: Did not compete during the cross country season or track and field seasons ... named a BIG EAST Academic All-Star.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Karen Kathleen Lesiewicz graduated from Schaumburg High School in the spring of 2011 ... lettered four times in cross country and four times in track and field, running mid-distance on the track ... in cross country, earned three all-conference tallies, two all-region honors and one all-state accolade ... named team MVP and captain as a senior ... stellar junior season on the track saw a conference, sectional and state championship, and all-conference and all-state marks ... was selected as team captain and team MVP as a junior ... also earned all-state honors as a sophomore on the track ... best times include 16:55 in the three miles, 10:47 in the 3,200 meters, 4:54 in the 1,600 meters and 2:13 in the 800 meters ... ran a leg of state championship 4x800m-meter relay team ... time of 9:06 set a school record ... cross country team won IHSA state championship in 2010 ... 4:54 in the 1,600 was a school record and won state championship ... also a member of the Drama Club and improv team ... participated in vacation bible school and was a YMCA camp counselor ... was an academic scholar and a member of the Thespian Society ... received the Foreign Language award ... born October 25, 1992, to Thomas and Kathy Lesiewicz in Schaumburg, Ill. ... has three older brothers, Brian, Tim and Patrick ... brothers, Brian and Tim, both ran cross country and track and field at North Central College ... brother, Patrick, recently transferred to Notre Dame from North Central College to run cross country and track and field ... enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business.