Thomas Named CoSIDA Academic All-America® First Team
6/23/2017 12:40:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
AUSTIN, Texas — Kent State's Danniel Thomas has been named to the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division I Women's Track and Field/Cross Country First Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the organization announced on Friday.
Thomas owns a 3.67 grade point average in Kent State's sport and recreation management graduate program after earning a degree in physical education in 2016.
The Academic All-America® selection caps a sensational 12-month period for Thomas, which began by representing Jamaica in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She captured the women's shot put national title at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 9, which resulted in being named as one of 10 semifinalists for The Bowerman. Thomas was recognized as the Great Lakes Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year by the USTFCCCA for both the indoor and outdoor seasons, as well as being named the Most Outstanding Field Performer at the Mid-American Conference Championships for both seasons. Additionally, she was a co-recipient of Kent State's Janet Bachna Award, which is presented to the Kent State senior female student-athlete who displays athletic, academic and leadership excellence.
Thomas dominated the competition in her final year as a Golden Flash, winning 12 of 16 competitions en route to earning three All-America honors. She placed second in shot put at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with a Kent State record throw of 18.40m (60' 4.25"). Thomas captured the shot put national title at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships by unleashing a throw of 19.15m (62' 10"), which is the second-best mark in collegiate history. All six of her throws in the competition were good enough to win the national championship. Thomas finished the championship with a fourth-place showing in the discus throw a mark of 56.61m (185' 9").
The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. Thomas is the fifth Academic All-American in Kent State women's track and field/country country history. Overall, the Golden Flashes' track and field program has had 10 student-athletes combine for 12 Academic All-America® honors.
Players Mentioned
