Lincoln University Cauldwell, Thomas Earn National Honors

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- Lincoln junior Diana Cauldwell is the NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year while Victor Thomas is the NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Head Coach of the Year, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced on Thursday morning (May 31).

Cauldwell played an integral role in helping the Blue Tigers win the national title this outdoor season. She scored 18 points at the NCAA Division II Championships after winning the triple jump with a mark of 13.16m and finishing second in the long jump with a leap of 6.23m. Cauldwell won MIAA outdoor titles in both events, and sat first on the NCAA Division II Descending Order List this season in the long jump with a leap of 6.34m (20-9¾).

Cauldwell becomes the first athlete from Lincoln (Mo.) to win Women's National Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year honors.

Thomas, in his 17th season at Lincoln, guided the Blue Tigers to its eighth outdoor national championship, as well as its first since 2014. Scoring a total of 60 points, Lincoln's 4x100m relay team won the national championship, while Diana Cauldwell was the victor of the triple jump and Rene Medley won the national title in the 200m. During the regular season, the Blue Tigers recorded 12 top-10 NCAA Division II Descending Order List marks, including the top marks in the 200m, 4x100m relay and the long jump.

This is Thomas' fourth Women's National Outdoor Head Coach of the Year honors. He also won the award in 2016, 2010 and 2006. He also won Women's National Indoor Head Coach of the Year during the 2014 season.

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS MEDIA RELATIONS