POCATELLO, Idaho- Ashley Sturgis came around the corner, her spikes digging into the wood track in Holt Arena. What was seconds felt like hours down the strait.
She knew it was now or never.
Immediately after crossing the finish line, Sturgis collapsed onto the turf. The announcer came over the speaker, "Ashley Sturgis has set a new record for Idaho State University."
With a point total of 3,932 Sturgis had taken the gold and the record in the women's pentathlon.
"It was unreal considering the adversity I faced that year. I was missing practices due to injury and couldn't believe what I was able to accomplish," said Sturgis.
This wasn't the only time Sturgis has faced injury in her career.
Her freshman year of college, Sturgis suffered an injury that put her out for the year. While doing a track workout in Holt Arena, she rolled her ankle tearing ligaments and ending her season.
"Being a true freshman and having an Injury that took me out for so long affected my mental health, but it also provided me with room to grow and be more than just an athlete," said Sturgis.
The successful track athlete grew up in a small town called Paonia, Colorado. Paonia has a population of about 1,000 people and is located a little over seven hours away from Idaho State.
Here she was a three-sport athlete starting in middle school. She learned the value of balance by competing in multiple track events, basketball, and volleyball. Becoming the strong athlete she is today was not a one man job. Sturgis's support system is unmatched.
"My town had a strong community that is really good at supporting you no matter where you go after you graduate," said Sturgis.
Outside of the community, Sturgis has been fortunate to have an extremely supportive family. Her parents moved to Pocatello Idaho about two years ago to be closer to their daughters and be present through their track seasons.
Tracy and David VanVleet can be seen at almost every meet, cheering on the Idaho State Bengals. Sturgis's older brothers also add to her large support system by traveling to each conference meet.
On top of her direct family, Sturgis has been married for over three years now to her husband Jason.
Jason played a large role in Ashley Sturgis ending up at Idaho State.
"I was applying to schools close to Jason because I wanted to be close to him, but I wanted to choose my own path," said Sturgis. "I had gone online and was filling out forms for division two schools when I accidently filled one out for Idaho State, not knowing it was division one."
Even though Sturgis was unsure she was fit for a division one school, she has more than proved her spot here at Idaho state.
Throughout the years, Sturgis has won three conference championships in the Big Sky and competes in multiple events outside of the pentathlon and heptathlon. In total, Sturgis has seven conference medals, an Idaho State record, and numerous awards.
Outside of being a student athlete, Sturgis devotes time to her faith, family, work, friends, and the community.
During the day you can find Sturgis at the track or in the classroom, but she spends most nights at Portneuf Medical Center tending to patients.
This last year, Sturgis graduated with her bachelor's in science and nursing and has continued her education this year. She will graduate this spring with her bachelor of science and health science with an emphasis in health science.
You can find Sturgis competing in her final indoor and outdoor season for the Bengals starting January 15h at Holt Arena in Pocatello Idaho.
"I'm looking forward to pushing my limits and seeing how this next year goes," said Sturgis.
