CALIFORNIA (Jan. 17) – Former California (PA) track & field standout Divonne Franklin, Class of 2022 and 2023, was recently recognized at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, with multiple prestigious awards.

Franklin was recognized on Jan. 10 as a recipient of the NCAA Today's Top 10 Award and was again lauded on Jan. 11 as a Woman of the Year Top 30 honoree. Franklin, along with Georgia swimmer Callie Dickinson and Case Western Reserve (Ohio) women's soccer player Anika Washburn, were the only individuals to garner both awards at the NCAA Convention.

"Being chosen by the NCAA for the awards showed me that the growth, discipline and opportunity that Cal gave me didn't go unnoticed," said Franklin. "Being able to fly out to the NCAA Convention and make new friends and connections with other amazing female athletes was truly special. I hope to continue to be a role model to young, ambitious female athletes to pursue their goals just like I did and continue to do."
 
Franklin was the first Cal student-athlete in history to receive both the NCAA Today's Top 10 Award and Woman of the Year Top 30 Honor. She capped her collegiate career last spring as one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history, accomplishing outstanding achievements for her excellence both on the track and in the classroom.

"We are extremely proud of Divonne and her accomplishments. The two awards she received are the top honors a student-athlete can receive from the NCAA and culminate her career as a Vulcan," said Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe. "Not only is Divonne a national champion, but she is a researcher, a scholar and a difference maker in the community. She is a true role model for other student-athletes across the nation."

A native of Philadelphia, Franklin was the national champion in both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She set the NCAA Division II all-time record regardless of conditions in the 100 meters with a time of 11.09 seconds and ranked second in history in the 200 meters with a time of 22.65 seconds. Franklin earned All-America status eight times in her career, including first-team laurels five times, and captured a combined 15 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships. The 5-foot-10 sprinter established four PSAC all-time records and four PSAC Championship records while shattering seven school records. Frankin represented the Vulcans at both the Indoor and Outdoor USA Track & Field (USATF) Championships in 2023.

Franklin was voted the 2022-23 PSAC Pete Nevins Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was tabbed the 2022-23 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Atlantic Region Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Additionally, she was named 2023 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USATFCCCA) Outdoor National Scholar Track Athlete of the Year after being chosen the USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Indoor and Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year in both 2022 and 2023. Franklin also earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) First-Team Academic All-America honors in 2023 following second-team recognition the previous year.

"I'm full of joy and gratitude that I had the opportunity to represent Cal and NCAA Division II on such a big stage," said Franklin. "I was able to enjoy this moment with my mom and sister which reminded me of where I initially came from and how high school me would be in total disbelief and completely amazed by what I have accomplished in my athletic career."