DAYTON – University of Dayton women's cross country and track standout Chloe Flora was named the Ohio Freshman of the Year by the All-Ohio Coaches Association.

This honor is given to the best freshman runner in the state based on performances at the All-Ohio, conference, and regional meets.

Flora, of Botkins, Ohio, had a great rookie season highlighted by a fifth-place finish at the 2016 Atlantic 10 Championship. She ran the race in 17:26.7, the third-fastest 5k time in Flyer history and she broke her previous PR by 1:22. Flora was the fastest freshman of the race, earning A-10 Rookie of the Year honors; becoming the first Flyer to ever earn the honor. She also earned all-conference accolades in helping Dayton to a runner-up finish.

Flora also took 30th out of 301 competitors in Notre Dame's National Catholic Invitational. She was fourth out of 60 runners in the All-Ohio Championship with a 6K career best of 21:46.2, helping the Flyers to a second-place finish. Flora was Dayton's second-best finisher at the 2016 NCAA Division I Great Lakes Regional meet in Madison, Wis.

Flyer Emily Leonard was named the 2014 Freshman of the Year by the All-Ohio Coaches Association.

The UD women's track and field team opens up the outdoor season March 24-25 at the N.C. State adidas Raleigh Relays.