(06-23-09) WEST HAVEN, Conn. - University of New Haven track and field standout Shannon Gagne has been selected to the CoSIDA College Division Academic All-America Third Team based on a vote by sports information directors. Gagne becomes the first Academic All-America in women's track and field history.
Gagne was a CoSIDA Academic All-District 1 First Team selection earlier this month and is one of only five Academic All-Americans from the district.
Gagne, who owns a 3.92 grade point average following her junior year in the classroom, became a two-time All-American this spring as she finished fifth in the 200-meter dash at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. With a time of 23.91 seconds, Gagne finished two one-hundredths out of fourth place. In the prelims of the national meet, she broke the UNH record and now holds the mark at 23.71 seconds.
Gagne was also recently named the women's East Region Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), becoming the first women's track and field student-athlete to earn the distinction.
A Meriden, Conn. native, Gagne was the Northeast-10 Outdoor Champion in the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump. She qualified for the national meet in each of those events and was named Northeast-10 Women's Athlete of the Week five times during the 2009 outdoor season.
During the indoor season, Gagne captured Northeast-10 titles in the 55 meters, 200 meters and long jump.
