Senior Madeline O'Connell, a three-time national champion member of the women's track and field team has been named the recipient of the 2024 Merle Spurrier Award from the Department of Athletics and Recreation.
 
O'Connell received her award at the annual University of Rochester Athletics Awards Banquet last night, along with seven other department award winners, at the ceremony in the Frederick Douglass Ball Room.
 
An 8-time All-American, O'Connell is one of the most decorated individuals in school history, and is one of just three across all sports at the University to have three national titles attributed to her. Last season, she competed on Rochester's national champion and Division III record breaking 4x400 meter relay at the NCAA Championships.
 
This season during the indoor campaign, O'Connell backed that up with two national titles, again helping UR claim the 4x400 meter relay title and also securing an individual crown, winning the Division III pole vault national title with a height of 3.92 meters.
 
O'Connell's trophy case includes being named the 2024 Liberty League and Niagara Region Indoor Field Athlete of the Year. She is a seven-time Liberty League champion and also has won two All-Atlantic Region titles, encompassing both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
 
The Sudbury, Massachusetts native is a six-time school record holder at the University and ranks inside the top-15 all-time in Division III during both the 4x400 meter relay and pole vault, both indoors and outdoors. During the 2022 outdoor season, she also was named Division III National Athlete of the Week by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
A team captain during her time with the Yellowjackets, O'Connell also is involved outside of athletics, previously working as a Research Assistant in the Wojtovich Lab at the UR Medical Center and as a Surgical Pathology Lab Technician Assistant at Strong Memorial Hospital. She also is a certified Emergency Medical Technician with CHS Mobile Healthcare, is a member of GlobeMed, and serves as a Senior Alpine Ski Patroller volunteer.
 
Academically, she has received four straight All-Academic honors, coming from the Liberty League and the USTFCCCA. O'Connell also is a two-time Academic All-District selection by the College Sports Communicators.
 
She will graduate in May with her degree in Neuroscience.
 
Merle Spurrier served in the Department of Physical Education for 30 years and rose to Director of the women's program. She oversaw activities in 10 sports.
 
This award originated in 1961 to give recognition to the senior woman who has made the most outstanding contribution to women's sports by demonstrating such qualities as leadership, enthusiasm and service in her four years at the University.