ALFRED, NY – Ashley O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) became Alfred University's first recipient of the Empire 8 Women's Track Athlete of the Week award for the 2022-23 year on Monday in an official announcement by Associate Commissioner, Joe Venniro.
 
O'Toole soared past her collegiate personal best time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Saturday. Her previous personal best was set in 2019 when she ran for Division II California State University Monterey Bay, clocking in a time of 13:32.17. On Saturday, at the large-scaled, Jim Taylor Invite, hosted by Susquehanna University, O'Toole finished with a time of 13:11.37 as she finished fifth in the event. She also teamed with Nyah Solly (Colden, NY/Springville-Griffith Institute), Sarah Lutkins (Union Springs, NY/Union Springs) and McKenzie Hall (Hornell, NY/Hornell) in the 4x400-meter relay to finish seventh with a time of 4:32.24.
 
On Monday, O'Toole was joined by fellow Californian and Ashley, Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) as an Empire 8 Weekly Award recipient. Lugo was named the E8 Softball Player of the Week.

O'Toole and the rest of the Saxon track & field team will next travel to SUNY Geneseo for a two-day outdoor meet on Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1.