IRVING, Texas – Charlotte All-American pole vaulter Riley Felts has been named as one of the nine finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year.
 
Established in 1991, the award is rooted in Title IX and recognizes female student-athletes who have completed their undergraduate studies and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics and in academics throughout their college careers.

The nine finalists consist of three student-athletes from each NCAA division. Each finalist was selected for her outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

Representing Division I, the finalists are Riley Felts, Charlotte; Caitlin Lyons, Georgia; and Isabella Whittaker, University of Pennsylvania. The finalists from Division II are Anna Grossheim, UNC Pembroke; Samantha Pirosko, Gannon; and Shelby Robb, Metropolitan State University of Denver. Division III finalists are Hannah Kassaie, Case Western Reserve; Maddy Miles, Mount Union; and Alexandra Turvey, Pomona-Pitzer.

Felts set school and conference records in both indoor and outdoor track and field in pole vault during the 2024 season.  She was the NCAA Runner-Up in the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships and 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship.
 
Serving on Charlotte’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Felts graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree and completed a master’s degree in geoenvironmental engineering.  The 2024 American Athletic Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Felts earned multiple College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American and All-District honors during her time on campus.
 
Outside of campus, Felts participated in a variety of volunteer opportunities, including for the Down Syndrome Association of Charlotte’s Buddy Walk and for Samaritan’s Feet, which works to provide shoes to those in need.
 
Selected from a record-breaking 627 nominees submitted by member schools, that pool of student-athletes was narrowed to the national Top 30 honorees and then to the nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will choose the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year at the NCAA Convention in January in Nashville, Tennessee, the NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced, and the Top 30 will be honored.