BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UMass Dartmouth sophomore
Ancil Alexander earned All-American honors for the second time in his young career on Saturday at the 2026 NCAA Division III Indoor National Championships – hosted at the Birmingham Crossplex.
Alexander, who hails from Taunton, Mass., garnered Second Team honors in the shot put amidst a very tough field of competitors. He posted a mark of 15.91 meters (52' 2.5") on Saturday to take 16th overall.
In addition to breaking the school record three times during the 2026 indoor season, Alexander claimed Little East Indoor Field Athlete of the Year honors. He entered this year's nationals ranked ninth in Division III, Alexander hit his school record and personal best mark of 17.49 meters on February 7 as the Corsairs won the Wheaton Invitational.
The sophomore finished second overall at the Division III New England Indoor Championships in the shot put with a mark of 17.12 meters (56' 2"). He also posted second overall in the shot put with a throw of 15.64 meters (51' 3.75") at the Little East Championship to earn All-LEC Second Team recognition. Currently, Alexander is the top-ranked shot put thrower in the conference and will be one of two conference competitors to compete in the event at Nationals.
It was an incredible season for the three-time LEC Field Athlete of the Week, who captured three victories in 2026 for the shot put. Additionally, Alexander posted seventh or better in 10 of 14 events competed.
This year, Alexander has had a number of outstanding performances. He opened the season with third overall in the shot put at the Wesleyan Winter Invitational. Alexander went on to win the event at the Reggie Poyau Memorial Invitational before taking second overall in the shot put at the Gordon Kelly Invite on January 24.
Alexander went on to break the school record in the shot put, winning the event with a throw of 17.34 meters (56' 10.75") at the multi-divisional John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University. He followed that effort up the next week at the Wheaton Invite, capturing the title with another school record throw of 17.49 meters (57' 4.75"), also finishing fifth in the weight throw (13.56 meters).
The sophomore placed third overall at the multi-divisional Hemery Valentine Invitational with a throw of 16.82 meters (55' 2.25") before taking second overall at the Little East Championships. He produced New England DIII Automatic qualifying marks in every meet he has thrown the shot put in.
Alexander and the rest of the Corsairs squad returns to action next weekend, traveling to Middletown, Conn., for the J. Elmer Swanson Spring Classic at Wesleyan University on March 21.
