BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior Danielle Poto has been selected to the 2015-2016 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) NCAA Division III Academic All-District™ One Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Team.
A three-sport athlete, Poto advances to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration. She is the program's fourth women's cross country/track & field student-athlete in the last six years to earn the regional accolade. Molly Rouillard ('13) and Sarah Lagasse ('12) were named to the team in 2013 and 2011, respectively, while Poto garnered the honor as a sophomore in 2014.
Of the eleven District One honorees, Poto is among two student-athletes from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) voted to the team joining Westfield State's Naloti Palma. District One is comprised of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
A native of North Andover, Massachusetts, Poto wrapped up an amazing academic career at Bridgewater State with an impressive 3.95 grade point average. She just recently graduated with a degree in Spanish with a minor in Secondary Education, and was named to the Dean's List in each of her eight semesters at Bridgewater State. Danielle is also a 12-time MASCAC All-Academic Team selection.
Danielle continued to excel as one of the top distance runners in the MASCAC and in New England during the 2015-2016 athletic seasons.
In the fall, Danielle captured All-MASCAC honors with a second place finish at the MASCAC Cross Country Championships and garnered All-New England accolades as she finished 31st at the Division III New England Championships. She was selected as the MASCAC Runner of the Week on September 7th and was named to the MASCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
This past winter indoor season, Danielle helped the Bears capture their third straight MASCAC championship as she won the MASCAC and New England Alliance individual title in the 3,000-meter run. She was also twice named the MASCAC Track Athlete of the Week during the indoor campaign.
Poto capped off a terrific four-year career with an impressive spring outdoor season. She captured the Division III New England crown in the 10,000-meter run with a career-best time of 35:59.46. Danielle also won both the MASCAC and New England Alliance championships in the 5,000-meter run and earned All-ECAC honors in the same event. She was selected as the MASCAC Track Athlete of the Week three times in the spring.
Danielle qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the first time in her career. She placed 11th in the 10,000-meter run at the national championship meet hosted by Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
To be eligible for all-academic honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or a key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.