FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Coppin State junior Deandra Daniel concluded her dynamite season with a special accomplishment -- finishing third overall in the high jump at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center on the University of Arkansas’ campus Friday afternoon.
Daniel tied her personal best and school record mark of 1.87 meters (6 feet, 1.5 inches) to claim a bronze medal in her signature event. In proving that she’s one of the best collegiate high jumpers on the planet, Daniel finished the season on fire by clearing six feet in five consecutive meets while establishing or tying her personal best mark each time.
“It means a lot to me to come in third,” Daniel said. “I put in the work and got the results I deserved. I am very pleased with my efforts today and I had great attempts at each height. I knew in my heart that I could do it. Jumping today I felt relaxed and great. That helped me throughout the competition.”
Georgia’s Leontia Kallenou won the event with a clearance of 1.93 meters (6-4) and Akron’s Claudia Garcia Jou, who soared 1.90 meters (6-2), was second.
Daniel achieved many of her goals and then some during a memorable 2014-15 indoor season. Daniel won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) high jump championships. She consistently rewrote the school and conference record book during a storybook season.
A five-time MEAC high-jump champion, Daniel was named MEAC Field Athlete of the Week twice and ECAC Track and Field Athlete of the Week this season.
While Daniel was the only person galloping down the runway like a gazelle and then gracefully soaring over the bar like a dove at the national championships, she understands that her performance was a total team effort.
Daniel had plenty of support in person in the form of her high jump coach Natoya Baird, a former Coppin State standout, and CSU head women’s track and field coach Alecia Shields-Gadson. She also had lots of encouragement from the Coppin State campus, teammates, friends from around the world, her hometown of Trinidad & Tobago and on social media.
“I just want to thank God because without him, I wouldn’t have been able to reach this far and accomplish any of this,” Daniel said. “Also I want to thank my main coach Natoya for believing in me. She is the best coach and we have built a great relationship, not only as coach but as good friends. I want to thank coach Shields for her great support and everyone else for their prayers and support. It meant a lot and it mattered.”
Shields-Gadson, who has seen plenty of outstanding performances during her distinguished coaching career was impressed with Daniel’s laser-like focus throughout the year.
“It can’t get any better than this,” Shields-Gadson said. “At one of our team meetings, she stated her goal was to repeat as conference champion. Check. Win the ECACs. Check. PR. Check. Finish third at nationals. Super check. Most athletes don’t accomplish this in a career, so for her to do them all in one season…Wow.”
Like any elite athlete, Daniel was happy with her effort, but not satisfied or resting on her accomplishments. Daniel is already looking forward to the final phase of her track season: outdoors where she has higher goals. While outdoor season begins next weekend at the Coastal Carolina Invitational for Coppin State, Daniel is going to use Saturday’s off day to relax and possibly go sightseeing and shopping.
“Finishing third feels great, but I didn’t accomplish all of my goals for indoors,” Daniel said. “I will be even better for outdoors.”