NEW ORLEANS, La. - Washington & Jefferson College track & field senior track athlete Claire Anderson (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown) was named the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year announced on Thursday (May 28) by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
Anderson is the first W&J and Presidents' Athletic Conference athlete to be named the USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Region Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.
 
"Claire has been absolutely one of the hottest runners in the country this year so receiving this award is very deserving", stated Head Coach Andy Upton. "She worked her butt off and learned from each opportunity that was placed in front of her getting stronger every week the season got longer. I have never seen a distance runner look as strong and relaxed as she has this year."
 
The senior runner earned two First Team All-American awards following her performances at the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships this past week. This is the first time that a W&J track & field athlete has become an All-American in multiple events at the same championships since Cheyenne Mangold '14 accomplished the feat during the 2013 Outdoor Championships. Additionally, Anderson becomes the first W&J runner to become an All-American in the 5,000-meter run.  
 
Anderson raced her way to a First Team All-American nod following her third-place performance in the 10k. Anderson ran to a time of 34:18.15 to finish as the first W&J All-American since Mangold '14 in the 2014 season. The placement from Anderson matches the second-best track & field finish by an individual at nationals in program history.
 
The senior followed that up with a sixth-place finish in the 5,000-meter run on Saturday. Anderson clocked in with a time of 16:36.23 to secure her second First Team All-American honor of the week. Anderson had to dig deep and come from behind by passing eight runners in the final mile to come across the line in the top eight. Anderson added three additional points to her total from the two distance running events.
 
Anderson earned an USTFCCCA All-Region nod in three events including the 1,500-, 5,000- and 10,000-meter run this season. The now three-time All-Region selection finished first in the region in the 10k after her 34:07.20 school record time at the Bison Outdoor Classic hosted by Division I Bucknell University. The time of 34:07.20 currently ranks as the 25^th fastest time in Division III history. 
 
This season at the PAC Outdoor Championships, Anderson won and set two conference records. Anderson set new conference records in the 5k and the 10k to secure two more conference titles to her outdoor resume. Anderson finished second in the region in the 5k following her 16:33.88 time ran at the Presidents' Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships. In the 1,500-meter run, the senior distance star finished eighth in the region with a time of 4:34.27 at the Marty Goldberg Invitational.
 
"It was a lot of fun to watch her put it all together in her final races at the NCAA Championships and show the country exactly what I have seen all year long. I'm super proud of Claire and what she has accomplished this year both on and off the track," replied Upton. "She is a great athlete, a great student, and most importantly a great person and she has been an absolute joy to be around for the last three years."
 
Anderson cements her place at W&J as the best distance runner the program has ever seen. She holds the top cross country time at W&J (21:04.90) along with six indoor and outdoor track & field records.