Florida State University Athletics
DeFrand Named ACC Women's Outdoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year
6/22/2023 6:12:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
Dajaz DeFrand capped a sensational rookie season on Florida State’s women’s track and field team on Thursday
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Seminoles.com) — Dajaz DeFrand capped a sensational rookie season on Florida State's women's track and field team on Thursday when she was named the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Women's Freshman of the Year.
DeFrand earned first-team All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor Finals after finishing eighth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.08. She was the ACC Indoor and Outdoor Women's Track Most Valuable Performer after placing first in both the 100 meters (11.18) and 200 meters (22.67) while also running a leg on the Seminoles' second place 4×100 relay team.
"Daja had a storybook season," FSU head coach Bob Braman said. "Winning ACC's and making first team All-American is almost unthinkable for a freshman.
"Coach (Matt) Kane and Daja had a fantastic and productive coach-athlete relationship that played a big part in her fantastic season."
A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, DeFrand qualified for the national finals with a personal best time of 11.05 in the 100 meters at the NCAA East Regional in late May. She just missed advancing in the 200 meters as well, finishing just 12/100ths of a second away from a qualifying spot.
DeFrand becomes the fourth Seminole to earn the award as the top freshman in the ACC. Kimberly Williams was named the conference's best rookie in 2008, Chelsea Jarvis in 2015 and, most recently, Eleonora Omoregie in 2017.