Avery Poppe is an All-American

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina – Avery Poppe is officially a two-time All-American in the heptathlon, earning the honor again this season with a fifth place finish at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in Asheville, North Carolina. She was the only underclassman to earn All-American recognition in the event, finishing among a top-eight group that included five seniors, two juniors, and just one sophomore, Poppe herself. Her performance also set a new school record with 4,831 points, surpassing the mark she set earlier this year.

Poppe's achievement came through a strong and steady showing across all seven events of the heptathlon. Day one opened with the 100-meter hurdles, where she placed fifth in 14.69 seconds, just 0.08 off her personal best. She followed with a 1.48 meter high jump, placing 14th, then delivered a solid 10.08 meter shot put for eighth place. She closed the day with one of her strongest events, the 200m, running 25.50, just one hundredth shy of her lifetime best to take second in the field.

Despite her strong start, Poppe ended the first day in ninth place overall, one spot outside All-American position. With three events remaining, she needed a decisive second day to climb into the top eight.

She opened day two with a 5.31 meter long jump, good for fifth in the event and enough to move her into seventh place overall. A strong 35.50 meter javelin throw followed, placing her eighth in that event, though she slipped back to ninth in the cumulative standings heading into the final event.

Everything hinged on the 800m. Poppe entered with a personal best of 2:29.59 and needed a strong performance to secure All-American status. After settling into the back of the pack during the first lap, she surged forward on the second, pushing into sixth place in the race and ultimately finishing in 2:25.78, a nearly four-second personal best and almost six seconds faster than her season best.

That breakthrough performance vaulted her into fifth place overall, securing her second career All-American honor and marking the strongest heptathlon finish in program history.