Senior Kirby Blackley of The University of Findlay women’s outdoor track and field team was named the NCAA Division II National Female Track Athlete of the Year on Thursday, May 22, according to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

With the award, Blackley becomes the first Oilers athlete to receive a national player of the year honor at the NCAA Division II level.

To read more, click here to be directed to the full news release posted by the UF sports information department.

Blackley will compete at the NCAA Division II National Championship, which is being held in Pomona, Calif., May 22-24.

This season, Blackley has been named the Great Lakes Region Athlete of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor seasons as well as being named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Athlete of the Meet at both championship competitions.

Blackley was also named the GLIAC Field Athlete of the Year in 2005 for her performances during the outdoor season and has had a share in 14 GLIAC championships during her career. She also holds or shares eight school records for the indoor and outdoor teams, has accumulated five GLIAC records and was featured in the most recent edition of Sports Illustrated as part of their “Faces in the Crowd” (May 26 issue, page 27).