Marshall University Athletics
Marshall’s Abby Herring Nominated For NCAA Woman Of The Year
7/11/2024 11:45:00 AM | Cross Country, General, Track and Field, Student-Athlete Success
Parkersburg native shattered records, set milestones in storied Herd career
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Athletics is pleased to announce that Marshall Women's Track and Field and Cross Country standout Abby Herring was a 2024 nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, community service and leadership.
"Abby epitomized the growth that can happen for an NCAA Division I student-athlete," said Christian Spears, Marshall's Director of Athletics. "She arrived at Marshall untested and unproven, and she left with multiple championships, record-breaking accomplishments and a set of experiences that will inspire future generations. She is exactly what the NCAA Woman of the Year should embody. We are thrilled to nominate her, but more importantly, to call her a Daughter of Marshall."
Herring's nomination comes following an impressive record-setting career with the Herd in which she became one of the most decorated track and cross country athletes of all-time while winning 17 collegiate races in the process.
During her final year with the Herd, Herring served as a team captain for the track and field team while setting and/or re-setting six personal and school records while also breaking two Sun Belt Conference records – the Indoor 5K (16:06) and Outdoor 10K (33:08). Both of those times were Marshall records as well.
Herring will forever hold the distinction of being the first woman in Marshall Cross Country history to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Other distinctions include program records in the 1K, 3K, 5K and DMR in Indoor Track while also setting Outdoor Track marks in the 3K, 5K, and 10K and also the 5K and 6K school records in Women's Cross Country.
Herring also became only the second woman in Marshall history to be a four-time All-Conference Cross Country runner. She was also a three-time SBC Track Athlete of the Week and a three-time SBC Cross Country Athlete of the Week – all of which landed her on the 2024 First Team All-SBC Outdoor and Indoor Track teams, along with the 2022 and 2023 First Team All-SBC Cross Country teams.
In addition to her accolades in the sport, Herring was a three-time C-USA Academic Medal (3.75 GPA or higher) recipient while also being named a two-time All-Academic Cross Country selection by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Herring also showed her leadership in the community, serving as a role model for the youth in the Huntington/Tri-State area, as well as the entire state of West Virginia. Some of her activities included Marshall's Sweetheart Clinic and Country Roads Running Camp where she served as a camp counselor and mentored young girls attending the camp.
The Parkersburg native also served as a HELP Center Learning Specialist and assistant group leader at River Valley Child Development Services while also volunteering and student-teaching at area elementary schools.
It is the second straight year that a Marshall Track & Field athlete has earned the school's NCAA Woman of the Year nomination as Marshall's Macie Majoy also earned the honor in 2023. Majoy was later selected by the Sun Belt Conference as one of two conference representatives to be submitted for the national award.
Nominations for the award were submitted to the NCAA by June 21 and will be reviewed by each respective conference for selection to represent the conference at the NCAA level by July 31.
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