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EDWARDSVILLE, IL —Bloomsburg University track standout Danielle Kramer (Coal Township/Shamokin) can now call herself an All-American after finishing sixth Thursday night at 10,000-meters at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships being held at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Danielle Kramer
2003 All-American

Kramer finished in a time of 36:01.07 to earn All-American honors (top eight are named All-American).

During the race Kramer was as high as second, 14 laps into the race, when the first place runner hit the rail and fell to the track. Kramer tried to leap over her, but hit the track hard and tumbled over, eventually facing the wrong way on the track.

Picking herself up, Kramer battled back over the final 11 laps and was as high as fourth place before runners from Indiana (PA) and Clarion were able to pass her on the last lap giving the PSAC three All-Americans in the race.

Head coach Karen Brandt had a lump in her throat describing the effort by Kramer.

“I am very proud of the effort put forth by Danielle tonight,” said coach Karen Brandt. “It is a shame what happened to her since she was on pace to run 35:25. But, Danielle is the toughest athlete at Bloomsburg, despite her small stature, and was able to shake off the misfortune of falling down to get All-American honors. If there was ever someone deserving of the honor it is Danielle.”

“She (Danielle) sacrificed a great deal to get back to the national championships after last year's disappointing finish,” Brandt said. “She trained hard all year long and was running the race of her life before the fall. I can't say enough good things about her effort in the race and I know she will use this as motivation for next year.

Kramer becomes the first track All-American for the Huskies since Michelle Wolyniec took eighth at 10,000-meters in 2000 under Karen Brandt. Wolyniec was also a sixth-place finisher at that distance in 1996 at the NCAA championships.

Molly Wedel from South Dakota won the event this year in a time of 35:22.