Recent Emory University graduate Annika Urban has been named as one of the Top 30 finalists for the 2022-23 NCAA Woman of the Year Award as announced by the national organization Monday afternoon.
The prestigious honor comes on the heels of Urban being chosen as one of two University Athletic Association representatives for the award this past August. In total, 619 female college athletes across the three main NCAA divisions were nominated for the award including 227 from Division III. Urban is one of 10 Division III honorees among the Top 30. From the Top 30, the Woman of the Year selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division and announce nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then will choose the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year, which will be announced later this year.
To view all of the Top 30 honorees, please click here.
Urban cemented her legacy as of the great runners in Emory and NCAA history during her senior season, dominating all facets of competition beginning with her cross country season and continuing through indoor and outdoor track.
Across her record-breaking career, Urban was a two-time NCAA Division III Women's Track and Field individual national champion in the indoor mile and outdoor 1,500 meters in 2023. She earned seven U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-America honors, and holds the NCAA Division III indoor championship meet record in the 1,500 meters.
Urban was the USTFCCCA South/Southeast Region Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 indoor and outdoor seasons after earning the honor for cross country in 2021 and 2022. She was selected Most Outstanding Athlete at the University Athletic Association championship for cross country in 2022, and in indoor and outdoor track and field for 2023. She won four individual conference championships and holds seven school records. Urban was a 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team selection and was a two-time Academic All-District honoree. She earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors three times and made nine conference all-academic teams.
Away from competition, Urban acted as a peer health partner, developing evidence-based curriculum and facilitated weekly courses for first-year students. She was a member of the Dean's Student Advisory Board, and as co-president of Table Talk Emory where she coordinated events to connect students across campus. In 2020, Urban contributed to the revision of FeedPGH reports for the mayor as a food policy intern for the city of Pittsburgh. Urban also was an editorial intern for U.S. News & World Report and a contributor to Emory's Center for the Study of Human Health, writing health and wellness content.