AUSTIN, Texas – College of Idaho thrower
Claire Otero was honored today as a second-team selection to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America ® College Division Women's Track & Field Team as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
The senior becomes the fourth women's track and field athlete to earn the award in program history, joining
Hillary Holt, who earned first-team honors in 2013 and 2014;
Hannah Lentz, who earned second-team honors in 2015; and
Ruth Lewinski, who earned second-team honors in 2016.
The Google Cloud Academic All-America ® College Division Women's Track & Field Team is comprised of student-athletes from NAIA, Canadian and two year institutions. The team boasted an average grade point average of 3.95, including three student-athletes with a 4.00 or higher grade point average.
To be nominated, student-athletes were required to be at least a sophomore in eligibility, maintain a 3.30 cumulative grade point average and be an important contributor to their team. Those selected earlier in the month to one of the four first-team Academic All-District teams comprised the final ballot for selection for the Academic All-America ® Team.
Otero, a native of Caldwell, capped an amazing career at the C of I with her third-straight Cascade Conference discus title and her third trip to the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.
She was honored earlier this season as an Academic All-Cascade Conference selection, a NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete and the CCC Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
FIRST TEAM
Name School Yr. Major
Chelsea Baker (1) Friends University Sr. Physical Education / Teacher Education
Alex Berends Taylor University Sr. Political Sci. / Philosophy / Econ & Int'l Studies
Charlotte Culiver Arizona Christian University Sr. Biology
Emily Harsin Doane University Sr. Elementary Education
Katie Landhuis (2) Northwestern College Sr. Exercise Science / Physical Education & Health
Samantha Liermann (1) Concordia University (Neb.) Sr. Recreation & Sport Studies / Business Admin.
Ashley Plumb St. Ambrose University Sr. Psychology
Ione Rodriguez Our Lady of the Lake University Gr. Psychology – Marriage and Family Therapy
Chena Underhill Westmont College So. Political Science & Data Analytics
Ellie Willging (1) Saint Xavier University Sr. Political Science
SECOND TEAM
Name School Yr. Major
Taylor Bluemel Taylor University So. Elementary Education
Emily Deschaine Concordia University (Neb.) Sr. Secondary Education, English and Music
Megan DeWeerd Trinity Christian College Jr. Psychology
Keili Dorn Embry-Riddle University (Ariz.) Jr. Global Security & Intelligence
Hannah Drake Cornerstone University (Mich.) Jr. Accounting Business Finance
Natali Engle Friends University Sr. Health Sciences
Christa Follette Friends University Sr. Health Sciences
Julia Kaster Southeastern University Sr. Biology
Claire Otero College of Idaho Sr. Chemistry
Kinsey Pease Arizona Christian University Sr. Secondary Education
Anna Souzis Taylor University Jr. Exercise Science
Rebecca Starrett Missouri Baptist University Jr. Biology
Google Cloud Academic All-America® of the Year: Samantha Liermann, Concordia (Neb.) University
(1) – CoSIDA Academic All-America® College Division first team selection in 2016-17
(2) – CoSIDA Academic All-America® College Division second team selection in 2016-17
