Demas Indoor Student Athlete of Year
3/31/2016 11:10:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Sam Houston State's Danielle Demas has been named Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Women's Student Athlete of the Year, becoming the second straight Bearkat athlete to take home the indoor honor.
The award is presented annually by the conference in each league-sponsored sport to one student-athlete who achieves excellence in both academics and athletics. All nominees must hold at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale and have demonstrated athletic achievement for at least two years at their institution.
Demas becomes the 19th Bearkat since the award was initiated in 2007 to earn recognition as their individual sport's Southland “Student-Athlete of the Year.” With three two-time winners in the past, the total number of times a Sam Houston student-athlete has received the award stands at 22.
Demas had a remarkable season, earning women's athlete of the year and outstanding runner honors for the Bearkats after taking first in total events at the Southland championships, becoming the women's high point scorer with 28 points.
The Houston, Texas (Cypress Creek H.S.), native won the 60-meter dash in a time of 7.48 seconds, while taking first place in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.23 seconds. The senior also placed second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.06 seconds. Demas went on the NCAA National Championship where she placed 16th in the 60-meter hurdles.
Earlier in the season, the senior won the 60-meter hurdles at the LSU Purple Tiger and the Texas A&M Team Invitational. She was also runner-up at the New Mexico and Houston meets. Her personal record this season of 8.18 seconds tops the Southland and ranks No. 14 in the country. Demas has earned a 3.22 GPA majoring in health and is a Dean's List student.
Demas joins Kara Whitson, a senior pole vault specialist, as consecutive winners for the accolade. Whitson was voted as 2015 Southland Conference Women's Indoor Track & Field “Student-Athlete of the Year” after taking third at the league championships in the pole vault and maintaining a perfect 4.00 grade point average while pursuing a master's degree in Instructional Leadership.
