Air Force Academy

2Lt Dana Pounds

blank

Position: WCAP Volunteer Coach Experience: 2nd Season Events: Javelin

2Lt Dana Pounds returns to the Air Force track and field program for her second season as a volunteer coach. She will primarily work with the team's javelin throwers.

Pounds graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2006 with a B.S. in systems engineering management and was immediately assigned to the Air Force's World Class Athlete Program. As a WCAP athlete, she will be able to train for the 2008 Olympic Games, while serving as a member of the Falcons' coaching staff.

In her first year representing the World Class Athlete Program, Pounds threw a career-best matching 195'8" to win the U.S. title at the 2007 AT&T USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships. While becoming the Academy's first-ever champion at the senior national level, Pounds displaced the defending champion and current American record-holder by nearly five feet. In addition, Pounds finished third at the Prefontaine Classic and fourth at the Pan-American Games.

A three-time All-America honoree, Pounds capped off a stellar career at the Academy, winning her second consecutive national championship title in the javelin after successfully defending her NCAA regional title.

As a senior, Pounds claimed her third consecutive Mountain West Conference title, with an Academy, conference and championship-meet record throw of 195'8". That throw was the best in the nation during the 2006 season, matched the best toss ever by an American-born collegian, was the second-best throw by any U.S. athlete and registered as the ninth-best throw in the world during 2006.

In addition, Pounds became the first three-time javelin champion in the history of the prestigious Drake Relays. She also set a new meet record at the North America-Central America-Caribbean Championships, en route to her second title.

Pounds collected numerous awards during her final collegiate season. She was named the Mountain District Female Field Athlete of the Year, en route to being named the Midwest Region Female Field Athlete of the Year. The two-time captain claimed the Academy's Most Valuable Female Athlete award after earning her third straight team MVP honor.

Pounds was honored by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame as one of the state's Athletes of the Year for 2006, joining DU Hobey Baker winner Matt Carle and Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey.

A native of Lexington, Ky., Pounds is the second member of her family to graduate from the Academy. Her older brother Eric, who is currently a first lieutenant stationed at Vance AFB, graduated in 2004 and was a member of the Academy's swim team.