DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University sophomore Ashley McCoy has been named the Nationwide Insurance NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month for March 2011 in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments in the classroom, in the community and on the track as a member of the women’s track & field team.

A native of Wilmington, N.C., and graduate of New Hanover High School, McCoy ran in 12 races during three meets in the month of March, celebrating victory in all but one event.

The 5-4 sprinter had a busy start to the month, opening the outdoor season by running in five races at the Coastal Carolina University Invitational on March 11-12 in Conway, S.C. In her unblemished debut, she won individual races in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes with times of 11.96 and 24.27 seconds, respectively. She then joined teammates in the 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m relays, winning all three. Her 100m time of 11.96 seconds ranked 11th in the NCAA Division I ranks after the first weekend.

The following weekend at the Wake Forest Open in Winston-Salem, N.C., McCoy settled into the starting blocks twice for the 100m dash, crossing the finish line first in both the preliminaries and finals. Her winning result of 11.67 seconds in the finals was the fourth-fastest 100-meter time in the NCAA Division I at the time.

During the same meet, McCoy was part of NCCU’s winning 4x400m relay squad with a time of 3:43.02. She also experienced her lone setback of the month in the 4x100m relay, finishing just two one-hundredths of a second away from victory.

McCoy’s incredible month of March was capped with three race wins at NCCU’s own LeRoy T. Walker Invitational on March 26. She posted the fastest times in both the preliminaries and finals of the 100m dash, and was a member of the victorious 4x100m relay team.

A health education major at NCCU, McCoy works caring for the elderly at an assisted care facility when she returns home to Wilmington, N.C. She has also joined her mother in efforts to help area homeless people find housing.

For a complete list of Nationwide Insurance NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month honorees, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.