San Francisco State University

This year's Arete Award recipient is track athlete Carrie Thomas. A four-year letter winner, Thomas was the lead runner on the Gators' 4x400 relay team that captured All-America honors at both the Division II indoor and outdoor championships in 2011. This season, she has once again contributed to the success of both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays that have attained provisional qualifying times for the outdoor national meet later this month in Pueblo, Colo. The South Bay native has also excelled in the classroom, earning All-Academic honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).