Bersagel named NCAA Woman of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS – Anne Bersagel, a former Wake Forest cross county and track and field star, was honored Saturday night as the 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year.

Bersagel beat out eight other finalists for the award, which honors female student-athletes who demonstrate academic and athletics excellence as well as community service and leadership.

Bersagel, an economics and political science double-major who graduated with honors in December 2005, was a decorated student who also excelled in cross country and track.

“As female student-athletes, we owe a tremendous debt to the women who came before us and paved the way for participation in collegiate athletics,” Bersagel said in her personal statement on her nomination form.

The Greeley, Colo., native was a three-time ACC cross country performer of the week recipient and holds school records in outdoor track in three events – 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meters. She was selected a national female athlete of the week by the US Track Coaches Association.

As a Colorado state finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, Bersagel was a four-time Edwin G. Wilson Wake Forest Scholar Athlete of the Year. Her many honors include being named the Most Outstanding Political Science Student at Wake Forest and the Judicial Student of the Year in 2005.