Title IX: Adelaide Aquilla Arrives as Walk-On, Leaves as NCAA Champion and Olympian
5/30/2023 10:00:00 AM | General, Title IX
When Adelaide Aquilla arrived at Ohio State's campus to begin classes as a freshman walk-on in the fall of 2017, she didn't imagine just how much she'd accomplish while she was here. Now, as she's wrapped up her collegiate career, Aquilla is a four-time NCAA Champion, Olympian and NCAA record holder in the outdoor shot put, in addition to a high volume of other accolades and championships.
Aquilla is a six-time All-American First Team selection (2020 indoor, 2021 indoor/outdoor, 2022 indoor/outdoor, 2023 indoor) and was named All-American Second Team in 2019 at the outdoor championships. She has four NCAA shot put titles to her name (2021 indoor/outdoor, 2022 outdoor, 2023 indoor). In 2022, Aquilla was the shot put runner-up at the NCAA Indoor Championships and went on to win the NCAA outdoor title, breaking the collegiate record with a best throw of 19.64m / 64'5.25". She went on to compete in the USA Championships and World Championships the same year.
Ohio State's 2021 Female Athlete of the Year was also twice named the Big Ten Indoor Sportsmanship Honoree (2022, 23). In 2022, Aquilla was a semifinalist for The Bowerman, USTFCCCA Outdoor Regional Female Field Athlete of the Year, Big Ten Outdoor and Indoor Female Field Athlete of the Year, Big Ten Indoor Female Field Athlete of the Championships and All-Big Ten First Team (both indoor and outdoor). These accolades were earned after going undefeated in the shot put throughout the entire outdoor season. Aquilla was also named the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year and of the Championships in the 2021 season for both indoor and outdoor.
Aquilla broke the indoor and outdoor school shot put records multiple times during her Buckeye career and held the discus record by the time her outdoor career was over. She is a five-time Big Ten shot put champion (indoor 2020, indoor/outdoor 2021, indoor/outdoor 2022).
Following her dominant 2021 season, Aquilla qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for Team USA by finishing third in the shot put at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. Aquilla is currently competing professionally after earning her degree in public management a few weeks ago.
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