WASHINGTON -- In 1993, women’s indoor track and field was added as one of three Olympic sports to the Atlantic 10 Conference. The West Virginia Mountaineers claimed the league’s first championship, repeating again in 1995. That same season, Patience Itanyi set the A-10 long jump record (20-04.50), a mark that still stands. Itanyi went on to secure the 1995 Most Outstanding Track Performer honor.
West Virginia departed the league in 1995, creating a new dynasty led by the Rhode Island Rams. URI kicked off a streak of three straight A-10 Women’s Indoor Track and Field titles and tallied five in six seasons. In that span, coach Laurie Feit-Melnick collected four A-10 Coach of the Year awards. The Rams won eight gold medals at the 2004 A-10 Indoor Track and Field Championship, including three from Pascale Delaunay. Delaunay placed first in the triple, long and high jumps en route to winning the Most Outstanding Field Performer honor.
Upon its entrance to the A-10 in 2005, Charlotte quickly emerged as a dominant force. The 49ers rattled off five consecutive banners, including a shared title with Dayton in 2010. Charlotte’s Shareese Woods earned back-to-back Most Outstanding Track Performer honors in 2006 and 2007. Woods won the 200M and 400M at the 2006 championship and defended both titles in 2007.
The 49ers won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013 before their departure from the league. JoAnn Blakney captured gold in the 60M and 200M in 2012, securing the 2012 Most Outstanding Track Performer honor. Blakney was honored with the award again in 2013 after winning the 60M and 200M events.
VCU joined the A-10 in 2012 and quickly built the Rams’ reputation as a powerhouse. VCU won its first title in 2015 before claiming six championships over nine years. In that span coach Jon Riley won seven Coach of the Year honors. Eryn Byrd earned three straight Most Outstanding Field Performer awards from 2022-2024. During those three years, Byrd collected three gold medals.
Over the course of the sport’s 33-year history, nine A-10 programs have captured the league title, and 30 student-athletes have earned the Most Outstanding Track honor. 21 student-athletes have collected the Most Outstanding Field award, which was introduced in 2001.
YEAR TRACK FIELD
2025 Lily Saul (URI) Abigail Weening (GM)
2024 Simone Pierre (VCU) Eryn Byrd (VCU)
2023 Eleanor Mancini (LAS) Eryn Byrd (VCU)
2022 Lainey Studebaker(UD) Eryn Byrd (VCU)
2020 Suzanne Danneheim (GW) Jada Harris (UM)
2019 Lotte Black (URI) Shannon Taub (DUQ)
2018 Sarah Sears (DAV) Jenni Rossi (UD)
2017 Juleen Lewis (URI) Erin Reese (UD)
2016 Heather MacLean (UM) Jenni Rossi (UD)
2015 Kiara Porter (VCU) Courtney Kromko (UM)
2014 Meghan McGlinchey (LAS) Becky Stoyle (UM)
2013 Joann Blakney (CHA) Margo Britton (TU)
2012 Joann Blakney (CHA) Brittney Cloudy (SLU)
2011 Maureen Bulgrin (UD) Mallory Barnes (UD)
2010 Amanda Goetschius (CHA) Mallory Barnes (UD)
2009 Paris Williams (TU) Mallory Barnes (UD)
2008 Aja Jackson (CHA) Sara Thornton (URI)
2007 Shareese Woods (CHA) Kerstin Greene (FOR)
2006 Shareese Woods (CHA) Kelly Pohlman (UD)
2005 Jenna Darcy (LAS) Ashley Bell (UR)
2004 Khaleelah Sneed (UD) Pascale Delaunay (URI)
2003 Ruth Chege (UR) Edith Lewis (TU)
2002 Sheila Klick (LAS) Shea McMillan (DUQ)
2001 Afia Brown (TU) Gina Bundy (SJU)
2000 Toniann Razzi (LAS)
1999 Nicole Way (UM)
1998 Terry Carroll (LAS)
1997 Katie Ollendick (VT)
1996 Sue Yagielski (SJU)
1995 Patience Itanyi (WVU)