GENEVA, Ohio – UMass Dartmouth freshman
Ancil Alexander took home All-American honors on Thursday, finishing sixth overall in the discus throw at the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships – hosted at the SPIRE Institute.
Alexander becomes the first Corsair student-athlete in program history to garner All-America honors in the discus throw and the 61st overall All-America recognition earned by the UMass Dartmouth Track & Field program.
Alexander, who hails from Taunton, Mass., posted a throw of 49.83 meters (163' 6") to place sixth overall in his first national championship appearance. The rookie opened the event with a mark of 49.72 meters (163' 1"), sitting fourth heading into the finals. On his fourth throw, he hit the 49.83m mark, securing All-America honors. He was the top scoring freshman in the event and one of just three rookies among the 22 competitors.
The freshman's outdoor season saw him win the discus throw in seven out of nine meets. Additionally, Alexander also finished fifth or better in the shot put, including four straight victories near the end of the season.
The Division III New England and Little East Conference Champion in both the discus throw and shot put, Alexander was named the 2025 Little East Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. A five-time LEC Rookie of the Week and a two-time Field Athlete of the Week honoree, he has posted 10 total Field Rookie of the Week honors, including indoor.
Alexander opened the outdoor season at the J. Elmer Swanson Invitational at Wesleyan on March 22. During that meet, the rookie posted a mark of 47.09 meters (154' 6") on his first collegiate throw, breaking the school record previously set by Andrew Swallow '23 (46.95m; 154'0") during the 2022 outdoor season.
The rookie – who has continued to break the school record in multiple meets – saw his season highlighted at the Little East Championship as he posted a collegiate-best throw of 52.94 meters (173' 8"). That mark has held solid for the freshman thrower, who heads into the Division III National Championships ranked seventh in the nation.
Alexander then added Division III New England Champion to his resume in the discus throw the next weekend, winning the event with a mark of 51.78 meters (169' 10"). In addition, to being a new facility record at Coast Guard's Nitchman Field, it saw him become the first Corsair athlete to capture the DIII New England title in the discus throw. He was also the first UMD athlete to win a field event title at DIII NE's since Jordan Entwistle claimed the javelin throw at the 2019 championships.
Action continues for the Corsairs at the National Championships at 5:45pm as senior
Connor Richard competes in the javelin throw.
