Ada Anderson earned All-American honors with her sixth-place finish in the 800-meter run at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 12.

Anderson, a junior, finished with a time of 2:06.80 in the final. Aneita Denson of Arkansas won the event with a time of 2:03.65.

This is the first time Anderson has earned an All-American title, and she said she was happy with the way the race turned out.

“I entered the race with the goal of being an All-American,” Anderson said. “It was a lot of fun and I am glad that I made my goal.”

Anderson finished second in her preliminary heat on March 11 with a career-best time of 205.93. That time was the third-best indoor time in ISU history for the 800-meter run.

Anderson is shifting her focus to the outdoor part of the track season. She said her goal for the outdoor season is to keep improving on her time and make it to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.

Sprints coach Scott Roberts agreed, saying Anderson has a chance to do just as well in the outdoor championship as she did in the indoor.

“I think she can be an All-American again,” Roberts said.

“She is facing the same competition, and I think she has a good shot at it; she could even finish in the top three.”

Anderson said she is looking forward to the indoor season next year, and her goals are always to improve her skills.

“I think I can win a national championship next year, definitely,” Anderson said. “That is my big overall goal.”

Roberts also said Anderson can win an indoor national championship next year.

The women’s track and field team begins the outdoor season March 26 at the ASU Open in Tempe, Ariz.