Oct. 7, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Anne Bersagel, the recent Wake Forest graduate and All-American in track and cross country, was named one of nine finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, the NCAA office announced today.

The winner of the prestigious award will be announced Oct. 28.

Bersagel is one of the most-decorated athletes in recent Wake Forest history. Her individual awards and achievements include:

-- First team Academic All-American in 2005 (track) and 2006 (cross country)

-- Five-time All-American (2003, 2004 outdoor 10,000-meters, 2003 indoor 5,000 meters and 2002 and 2005 in cross country)

-- ACC champion in 2004 10,000-meters

-- All-ACC five times

-- Received 2006 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship

-- Wake Forest's Edwin G. Wilson Student-Athlete of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005

-- ACC Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Athletics in 2006

Bersagel is a Greeley (Colo.) native currently running professionally in Minnesota.

Other finalists for the award: Janelle Engle (Old Dominion field hockey), Angela Homan (Auburn track), Jennifer Irwin (Ferris State cross country and track), Adrianne Musu Jackson-Buckner (State University College at Oneonta track and field hockey) Angela Pfeiffer (Concordia College track), Bethany Rehm (Texas Woman's University gymnastics), Christyn Schumann (Trinity University track), Greta Trotman (Barry University Tennis).