On Tuesday, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced their All-America honors for the 2020 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season.
St. Thomas Aquinas College athletes Dante Brown and DeAndre Smith received such distinction after qualifying to compete in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships back in March. However, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the championships were canceled, ending the Spartan duo's spectacular season.
All-America honors are usually awarded based on classifications of performance at the NCAA Championships, but with their cancelation, the Executive Committee adopted the following criteria:
- Based on the posted startlist for the national championships announced by the NCAA, the following will be recognized as All-America for the 2020 indoor track & field season:
- Individual events: ALL student-athletes listed on the startlist for the anticipated event.
- Relay events: The four student-athletes per anticipated relay who produced the performance that was declared and accepted into their event.
- There will not be a distinction of “first-team” or “second-team” to these recognitions.
A total of 716 honors were handed out to 117 different institutions on Tuesday.
2020 USTFCCCA Indoor Track & Field All-America Athletes
Both Brown (Long Jump) and Smith (High Jump) excelled at their individual events during the 2019-2020 season. We take a look back at the indoor seasons for both athletes.
Dante Brown
Brown, the junior sprinter/jumper from Nyack, NY, was scheduled compete in the Long Jump Championship, where he finished the 2019-2020 campaign ranked 16th overall in Division II (7.39 Meters/24'3"). On the year, Dante competed in ten meets, finishing either first (5 times) or second (3 times) in the Long Jump event. In recognition of his outstanding season, Brown was also selected for USTFCCCA All-East Region Honors, along with ECC All-Conference accolades.
Dante Brown's Long Jump 2019-2020 Season Performances
Dec. 7th - The College of New Jersey Winter Opener: 7.29 meters/23"11" (2nd Place)
Dec. 13th - Wagner College Shootout: 7.04 meters/23'1.25" (1st Place)
Jan. 3rd - Wagner College Invitational: 6.72 meters/22'0.75" (1st Place)
Jan. 10th - St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartan Invitational: 6.87 meters/22'6.5" (2nd Place)
Jan. 17th - Ramapo College Opener: Did Not Compete in High Jump Event
Jan. 24th & 25th - Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic: 6.99 meters/22'11.25" (8th Place)
Feb. 7th - University of Albany Winter Classic: 7.39 meters/24'3" (1st Place)
Feb. 14th - Fastrack National Invitational: 7.23 meters/23'8.75" (2nd Place)
Feb. 22nd - East Coast Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships: 7.29 meters/23'11" (1st Place)
Feb. 29th - Armory Leap Year Invitational: 7.20 meters/23'0.5" (1st Place)
DeAndre Smith
Smith, the sophomore jumper from Brentwood, NY, was scheduled compete in the High Jump Championship, where he finished the 2019-2020 season ranked 10th overall in Division II (2.11 Meters/6'11"). On the year, DeAndre competed in ten meets, finishing either first (5 times) or second (3 times) in the High Jump event. In recognition of his extraordinary campaign, Smith was also selected for USTFCCCA All-East Region Honors, along with ECC All-Conference accolades.
DeAndre Smith's High Jump 2019-2020 Season Performances
Dec. 7th - The College of New Jersey Winter Opener: 1.75 meters/5'8.75" (8th Place)
Dec. 13th - Wagner College Shootout: 2.00 meters/6'6.75" (2nd Place)
Jan. 3rd - Wagner College Invitational: 1.95 meters/6'4.75" (1st Place)
Jan. 10th - St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartan Invitational: 1.93 meters/6'4" (4th Place)
Jan. 17th - Ramapo College Opener: 2.01 meters/6'7" (1st Place)
Jan. 24th & 25th - Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic: 2.05 meters/6'8.75" (2nd Place)
Feb. 7th - University of Albany Winter Classic: 2.05 meters/6'8.75" (1st Place)
Feb. 14th - Fastrack National Invitational: 2.04 meters/6'8.25" (2nd Place)
Feb. 22nd - East Coast Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships: 2.11 meters/6'11" (1st Place)
Feb. 29th - Armory Leap Year Invitational: 2.10 meters/6'10.75" (1st Place)
Both Brown and Smith will return to the St. Thomas Aquinas College Track & Field squad in 2020-2021, with a chance for a return trip to the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships. Dante will compete in his senior season, while DeAndre will take part in his junior year.