INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – For just the third time in Cleveland State history, a Viking was awarded the Horizon League's prestigious Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor, as cross country and track & field standout Anna Brandt was named the 2020-21 female winner on Wednesday. Brandt was chosen as the Medal of Honor winner by the league's Faculty Athletics Representatives.
The Medal of Honor is given to the top male and female student-athletes in the Horizon League who best exemplify the dignity and high purpose of the Horizon League and its membership. The winner shall demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. The award is given to a graduated senior with at least a 3.0 GPA with outstanding character both during athletic competition and outside of athletics.
"I am truly honored to receive the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor. Being a student-athlete at Cleveland State University was an incredible opportunity not only to compete at the Division I level in the sports I love, but also to discover and pursue my passion for exercise science," Brandt said. "My experiences in athletics taught me how to be the best version of myself and persevere through any obstacle to accomplish my goals. This was only possible because of the support from the CSU athletic department, my coaches, professors, family, and friends. I would not be who, or where, I am today were it not for their guidance and care."
Brandt was a two-sport student-athlete for the Vikings, competing in cross country and track & field during her time at Cleveland State.
On the cross country course, Brandt finished her time in the Green & White as the program record holder in the 5K (17:55) and 6K (21:08) races. As a rookie, she was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year, while she earned All-League accolades three times – becoming the first Viking to achieve either feat. She recorded 13 top-10 finishes during her career, including capturing the individual title at the 2018 Jenna Strong Fall Classic.
On the track, Brandt graduated as the program record holder in five indoor events; 500, 800, 1,000, Mile, 3000 and three outdoor events; 400 hurdles, 800, 1500. As a senior, Brandt captured the 800 Meter Run title at the Horizon League Outdoor Championships with a time of 2:14.00, marking the first #HLTF individual event winner in program history.
"I am extremely proud of Anna for receiving the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor. Anna is everything that you want in a student athlete - she excels in the classroom, on the track, on the cross country course and as a leader on our team," head cross country coach Jason Hudson said. "Her dedication and compassion are unmatched, and she is truly one of the best student-athletes I have ever coached."
Earlier this spring, Brandt graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in exercise science, and was named the 2021 Spring Valedictorian for the College of Education & Human Services after posting a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA. As a six-time Horizon League All-Academic Team honoree (cross country;2 & track & field;4), Brandt was also recognized with the CSU Athletics President's Award as the graduating student-athlete with the highest GPA.
Next year, Brandt will be attending Ball State to continue her education as part of the exercise physiology program.
In addition, Brandt served as a CSULead mentor and was a team captain, while also being named a finalist for the 2019 Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year by the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards.
The award is named for the late Cecil N. Coleman, who served as the Horizon League's first full-time commissioner from 1980 to 1984. Coleman is responsible for much of the success the league enjoys today, including his work to secure automatic qualification for the Horizon League in baseball and men's basketball. Coleman received the NACDA James J. Corbett award in 1985, recognizing his achievement in the field.
Brandt joins Grace Luginbuhl (Softball, 2006) and Dmitri Ponomarev (Swim & Dive, 1999) as the only Cleveland State student-athletes to be awarded the Medal of Honor.
