NEW ORLEANS, La. — 

United States Coast Guard Academy senior high jumper Allie Wildsmith (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) has been named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Women's Field Athlete of the Year for the Mideast region. This is a familiar honor for Wildsmith, who picked up regional Athlete of the Year honors last season following her national championship run.

The Washingtonian entered this year's championships undefeated in collegiate meets and rounded out her final indoor season in 11th place with Second Team All-America honors. One of those wins came at Boston University's David Hemery Valentine Invitational, where she cleared 1.81 meters (5' 11.25") for a school record mark and the third-highest jump in NCAA Division III history. Another highlight was her qualifying for the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships, making her the first USCGA cadet-athlete and one of a handful of Division III athletes to qualify for the meet.

Wildsmith and the Bears track & field program will now turn their focus towards outdoor season, and the first meet on the calendar is just a day away as USCGA will send athletes to Wesleyan University tomorrow, March 21st, to compete in the J. Elmer Swanson Spring Classic.