Elon, N.C. - Sophomore
Maria Ahm, who hails from Holbæk, Denmark, had a spectacular 2020-21 for the Elon Phoenix. She began the year by being named the CAA Cross Country Runner of the Year and qualifying for the NCAA Cross Country Championships - the first female in Elon history to compete at that meet. She moved onto track & field and won the CAA Championship in the 5000, being named the conference's Rookie of the Year. She qualified for NCAA Regionals in the 10,000 and placed 17th, just five spots shy of a trip to nationals. In her own words, Maria talks about the impact Elon has had on her life and the successful year she recently concluded.
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Q: How has your scholarship allowed you to pursue your athletic and academic dreams?
Ahm: My scholarship is a game changer in pursuing my athletic and academic dreams. It provides me with the ability to combine and focus on both things without other factors that could interrupt, such as the necessity of having a job to support myself. The way that I'm able to structure my life around training makes this opportunity everything that I could have ever dreamed of. I'm thankful for the athletics department and everything they do for us. Additionally, there is no doubt that Coach (Kevin) Jermyn is a big part of my success at Elon.
Q: What was it like representing Elon this year at the NCAA Cross Country Championships and also racing at the NCAA Regional meet for track and field?
Ahm: It was an honor to represent Elon among fields that are so strong and competitive. NCAA Cross Country was a huge experience as there were so many athletes on the starting line. It was super exciting but also a bit terrifying at the same time. I believe that we can get there as a full team in the near future, and I'm looking forward to sharing the experience with my teammates.
Q: As an international student-athlete, what type of support has Elon (and/or the athletics department) provided to assist in adjusting to life in the USA?
Ahm: I think that the combined support from teammates, coaches, Global, and academic supervisors has made it a good experience to adjust to life in the US. It is always possible to find someone who can and will help you at Elon.
Q: How did it feel to win the CAA championship this year for cross country and track and field?
Ahm: An amazing feeling! Nothing can beat that feeling when hard work pays off. And we HAVE worked hard to get there. The title as CAA Champions reflects that we are not competing as individual runners but as a full team. It proves that we are a strong team and provides me with the confidence that we will achieve big things in the future.
Especially, winning the CAA championship in track this year was huge. It was super motivating and admirable to see my teammates doing their thing in each of their main events. That's the beauty of track season.
Q: As a captain, describe how you try to lead your teammates and how much they mean to you.
Ahm: As a captain, my focus is always to engage with the team in the most positive way possible - to provide good communication and motivation.
My team means so much to me. They are great supporters for me and each other. I'm so grateful for the relationship that we have developed. I think that is one of the main reasons for our success this season -- we are there for each other in good and bad. The future is looking bright for our team if we continue to do what we're doing.
