Thomas Named Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year
6/5/2017 12:21:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Kent State women's track and field's Danniel Thomas added another accolade to her already long list of career awards, as she was named the Great Lakes Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year by U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Thomas garners Regional Athlete of the Year honors following the outdoor season where she recorded the region's top marks in the discus (59.31m) and shot put (18.49m), clinching spots in the 2017 NCAA National Championships in both events. During 2016-17 the indoor season, Thomas also earned Great Lakes Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year honors.
In the shot put this season, Thomas earned a Mid-American Conference Championship with a meet record mark of 17.72m (58' 1.75") and set the Kent State and MAC all-time records at 18.49m (60' 8"). Her personal-best mark of 18.49m currently ranks 10th in the world and second in the nation by just 0.75", ahead of this week's national championships.
Thomas also earned a conference title and set the MAC Championship meet record in the discus, throwing a season best 59.31m (194' 7"). After taking third-place at the NCAA East Region prelims, Thomas heads into the national championships as the No. 4 seed.
With conference titles in the discus and shot put, Thomas was named the MAC's Most Outstanding Field Performer, to go along with her two MAC Athlete of the Week awards.
Thomas revamps her quest for a national championship this week as she competes for a shot put championship on Thursday at 9:40 p.m. EST, and then contends for the discus national title on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. EST.
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