University of New Haven senior Shannon Gagne was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II National Women's Athlete of the Year for the outdoor season.

The Lyman Hall graduate also earned the award after an impressive indoor season, becoming the third Division II student-athlete to be named the indoor and outdoor national track athlete of the year.


The Meriden native recently added two more championship titles to her historic senior season by claiming the 200 and 400 meter dashes at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She also earned points in the long jump with a fifth place finish. Her three performances earned the Chargers a ninth place finish at the national championship meet in Turlock, Calif.

Earlier this year, she won three national titles at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships meet and became just the third student-athlete in Division II history to win five national titles across both the indoor and outdoor season.

Gagne has earned several accolades throughout the 2010-11 indoor and outdoor seasons. The many honors include East Region Athlete of the Year, Northeast-10 Conference Track Athlete of the Year in both indoor and outdoor seasons.

She was named one-of-three finalist for the Northeast-10 Conference Women of the Year Award and earned Capital One Academic All-District honors from CoSIDA.