Please join us in congratulating Virginia State University’s Samantha Edwards who will represent the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) as the conference’s honoree for the 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

The Lady Trojans seven time All-American, Samantha Edwards (senior/ Elmont, NY) led her indoor and outdoor women’s track and field team to their first ever CIAA Championships and was named the NCAA Atlantic Region Track Athlete of the Year for her accomplishments during the 2012 outdoor season. Edwards is the 2012 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association champion in the 400m and runner-up in the 200m. Edwards had the fastest time in NCAA Division II in the 400 Meters with a season-best of 52.15, which qualified her for the USA Olympic Trials and the second-fastest time in the 200 Meters at 23.80.

The CIAA will have two nominees this year.  The other person is Alison Kolezynski of Chowan University.

NCAA schools nominated 429 individuals for the national award, which reflects the growth in opportunity for women to achieve as students, leaders and athletes. A quarter of those honorees received the additional recognition by their sport conference for outstanding achievement in their collegiate career. An announcement of the Top 30 honorees, ten from each NCAA division, will be made on NCAA.org in early September.