USTFCCCA RELEASE
NEW ORLEANS – Graduate student Ashley Elder (Bristol, Conn.) has become the first Indoor Track & Field All-American from Southern New Hampshire University. She garnered All-America status in the shot put. The announcement was made Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Normal policies dictate that All-America honors are awarded based on classifications of performance at the NCAA Championships. The NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, scheduled for March 13-14, was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. All student-athletes listed on the start list are being recognized this year as All-Americans.
Elder qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships for the second consecutive season in the shot put. Her season-best toss of 15.07m (49' 5.5"), set on December 14 at Southern Maine, was the seventh-best toss in the nation among Division II athletes.
Elder becomes the first woman from SNHU to be named an Indoor Track and Field All-American. Sahara Brown garnered All-America status in the javelin at the 2017 NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.
In addition to the All-American status, Elder has also been recognized for her academic achievements while pursuing her Master's degree in criminal justice. She has been honored twice by the USTFCCCA and four times by the NE10 for academics. Elder also earned College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District accolades and was named SNHU's Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year last spring. She finishes her career holding the school records for an indoor shot (15.13m), outdoor shot put (14.82m), discus throw (47.39m) and hammer throw (49.32m).
For the latest on Southern New Hampshire University athletics, follow the Penmen via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram. You can also sign up to receive text message alerts and e-mail newsletters about your favorite Penmen teams.
