There were many athletes in contention for this spot, from senior golfer Demi Runas to senior gymnast Katie Yamamura. However, sophomore sprinter Ashley Marshall claims the top spot for her outstanding results throughout the year.
Marshall was absolutely dynamite throughout the year, posting solid times in the various meets she competed in. What made her season special though was her excellence in the postseason races.
She posted a time of 11.70 seconds in the NCAA Regionals for the 100-meter. This placed her as the second fastest sprinter in her heat and the eighth fastest overall. Her top-three finish in her heat allowed her to advance to the NCAA Division I national championships. Marshall becomes the Aggies’ first female sprinter ever to advance to the NCAA championships.
Marshall also qualified for the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) championships in Moscow due to her fast times in the Big West Championships. She qualified for both the 100- and 200-meter, with a time of 11.34 seconds in the 100-meter and a school-record-breaking 23.25 seconds in the 200-meter, respectively.
Scoring valuable points for the team as Marshall won her individual 100- and 200-meter races, she became the Big West title holder for both of these events.
Her results and accomplishments this season were noticed by the Big West as Marshall was named the Big West Track Athlete of the Year. She became the second-straight Aggie to win the award.
Marshall’s impressive season still has not ended as she heads to the NCAA national championships from June 5 to 8. The event will be held in Eugene, Ore. at the University of Oregon’s track. Hopefully, Marshall can add to her winning season with a top-five finish at nationals.
One thing is certain as the school year comes to a close: Ashley Marshall has been a constantly dominating presence for the Aggies. As only a sophomore, she has accomplished pretty amazing feats. Good things are in store for both Marshall and the UC Davis women’s track team.
— Kenneth Ling
