Locker Room: Overby nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year

Senior Madison Overby, a three-time All-Summit League runner who will soon begin dental school at Harvard University, has been announced as a nominee for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year.

The NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility in their primary sport and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service, and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

Overby earned All-Summit League honors during the 2019-20 cross country and indoor track & field seasons, and Academic All-Summit League distinction during the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons.

The Austin, Minn., native helped set the indoor distance medley relay record on Feb. 15, running the opening leg at the South Dakota State Indoor classic, her final of three school records she set with the Fighting Hawks during her career.

She also finished in the top 10 in eight different events at the University of North Dakota.

Off the running paths, Overby served three years as the track & field program’s representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was Sports Editor for The Dakota Student, UND’s student newspaper.

Like other spring sport student-athletes, Overby’s season was cut short.

Though the NCAA has granted these student-athletes with waiver exceptions to compete next season, Overby has decided to pursue her graduate studies at Harvard University in the prestigious Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM).

Overby’s name was submitted by UND to The Summit League, where it will now select up to two nominees each from the pool of school nominees. Then, the Woman of the Year selection committee will choose the Top 30 honorees – 10 from each division.