NEW ORLEANS, La. – Senior Shannon Gagne of the University of New Haven women’s track and field team has been named the 2011 U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. The association announced its four Division II award winners on Wednesday.

Fresh off her three national championships, Gagne becomes the first-ever track and field student-athlete at UNH to be recognized as the National Athlete of the Year. Gagne’s trio of national titles came in the long jump, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. She became the second ever woman to win three national titles at one national championship meet, while becoming the first to accomplish it across both track and field events.

The USTFCCCA also named men’s track and field Athletes of the Year and a women’s Field Athlete of the Year, click here to see all four athletes of the year.

Gagne and the Chargers will return to action in the outdoor season at the Coast Guard Invitational and the Ramapo College Invitational on Saturday, April 2.