Mary T. Meagher Wins Broderick Cup as 1987’s Top College Female Athlete

Mary T. Meagher, the world record-holder in both the 100- and 200-meter butterfly events and a recent graduate of the University of California, was awarded the Broderick Cup Tuesday night as the nation’s outstanding collegiate female athlete.

In accepting the 11th annual award, which recognizes not only the kind of athletic excellence that Meagher has shown as one of the top swimmers in the world but also academics, character and community involvement, Meagher said: “I wrote my senior thesis on my theory that extracurricular activities only benefit a student. Through athletics you can learn about others, about how to work with others, about the world--how fair and unfair it can be.”

Later, she told reporters: “This is really exciting. They tell me this is like the Heisman Trophy for women. I’m glad I didn’t blow it by stealing anybody’s towel or anything.”

The other winners of Broderick awards were Jennifer Averill of Northwestern for field hockey, Regina Cavanaugh of Rice for track and field, Angela Chalmers of Northern Arizona for cross-country, Connie Clark of Cal State Fullerton for softball, Karen Dahlgren of Nebraska for volleyball, Patty Fendick of Stanford for tennis, Kelly Garrison-Steves of Oklahoma for gymnastics, Caroline Keggi of New Mexico for golf and Katrina McClain of Georgia for basketball.

Past winners of the Broderick Cup, first presented in 1977, include basketball stars Cheryl Miller, Nancy Lieberman and Ann Meyers, track standout Jackie Joyner and Olympic swimmer Tracy Caulkins.