Ava David sprints toward a recording-breaking nationals

Elmhurst University junior Ava David, a sprinter for the track team, received an All-American honors award for her top eight finishing race in the 200-meter dash at the Indoor Track and Field Championships held March 11 through 12. 

David was shocked by the results, stating, “I mean, it’s actually crazy that I got top eight. Like, I was top 10 going into the 200 that day, and I was only top 30 literally weeks before, like three weeks before, so I shouldn’t have made it that far and I did.”

At the Wartburg Invitational on March 5, David ran two national-qualifying races in the 200-meter and 60-meter dash, proving her ability to do well as a short sprinter, as well as the long sprinter she is known for. 

She set an EU school record in the 60-meter that day and set the meet record for that race.

David was grateful to have the opportunity to be able to compete at nationals. David describes the stressful experience of nationals as if she were a fish out of water — most of David’s teammates were used to running at the national level, while David was not. 

While she may have been a newcomer to this event, David raced like she was a pro. Placing eighth in the 200-meter dash prelims, David ran a time of 25.26 seconds, a personal record which broke the EU record that David set the weekend prior. 

David hopes to work hard in the upcoming year so that she can hold a national title within her final year at EU. 

“Right now, I just want to get stronger and be able to be more powerful in high-stress, difficult environments,” said David. “I had a lot of anxiety going into nationals and it just really threw me off, like, I don’t feel like I really ran like myself. So I just want to be able to overcome high, intense, emotional environments and still be able to run my best and my hardest.”