La Crosse, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse assistant women's track & field coach
Ashton May, 25, passed away Sunday, September 17 after a traffic accident Saturday, September 16 north of Adams, Minnesota. She completed her second season as an assistant coach with the Eagles in 2011-12. May earned her degree from UW-L in 2010 in elementary education and was a math and social studies teacher at Holmen (Wis.) Middle School.
A four-year track & field letter winner for the Eagles, she earned 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III All-America awards, including second-place finishes in the long jump and triple jump at the 2010 outdoor championships. May was also second in the long jump at the 2010 indoor national championships.
She owns UW-L outdoor records in the 4x100-meter relay (46.55) and 4x200-meter relay (1:43.33) and an outdoor facility record in the long jump (19-7). A native of Adams, Minnesota, she also holds the indoor school record in the long jump (19-5 1/2).
May was a four-time member of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Track & Field Team and was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Indoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete in 2010. She earned WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll recognition from 2006-10.
She earned 10 All-WIAC honors, including seven first-team honors. May was named the Field Performer of the Meet at the 2010 WIAC Outdoor Championships after winning the long and triple jump as well as being a member of the first-place 4x100-meter relay.
May was also a member of the outdoor conference champion 4x100-meter relay in 2007, 2008 and 2009. She captured the WIAC indoor long jump crown in 2010.
"Ashton was not only an outstanding athlete and an amazing young coach, she was one of the happiest, warmest and caring people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing," said UW-L head women's track & field coach
Pat Healy. "I got to know Ashton better than a lot of my athletes as I not only had the privilege of coaching her, but I also had the great honor of having Ashton as a colleague and a friend."
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 22 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Adams, Minnesota, with Father Thomas Loomis officiating.
There will be a 3 p.m. rosary service Friday, September 21 at the Adams Funeral Home where visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Visitation will also be held Saturday, September 22 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
