WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2022

Written by Bryan Messerly

Collegiate: Marie-Louise Asselin ran track and cross country for WVU from 2006-10. One of the most talented and decorated distance runners to ever wear the Old Gold and Blue, as of 2010, Marie-Louise Asselin, a Sarnia, Ontario, native owns seven All-America medals, including three in cross county and four in track.

Asselin’s last cross country season, 2009, was one for the record books as she became one of only two WVU runners to earn three All-America honors in the sport. Along with teammate Keri Bland, Asselin achieved the honor as she finished in 31st place (20:43) at the 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championship. The Mountaineers went on to finish sixth, marking the third-consecutive year that WVU finished in the top 10 at the national championships. Asselin also earned all-region honors for the fourth time in her career and all Big East honors for the third time. Her success continued into the track season as she posted a second-place finish in the 5,000-meter race at the NCAA Indoor Championships (15:50.53) and a second-place finish in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (15:53.93). Her indoor 5,000-meter time currently sits as the WVU program record.

In 2008, she led WVU to its most successful season in school history, as the Mountaineers took a historic fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championship, first at the NCAA all-Mid-Atlantic Regionals and second at the Big East Championship. Asselin became the first Big East Women’s Cross Country Individual Champion in 2008, as she took the top spot with a time of 20:10. She then placed 17th at the NCAA Championship race with a time of 20:27 to earn her second consecutive All-American honor. In the 2008 indoor season, Asselin went on to place seventh in the 3,000-meter to earn All-America honors and was on the All-America distance medley relay team that took fourth at nationals.

She earned her first All-American title in 2007 as the Mountaineers captured their first Big East Championship and finished ninth in the country. Even though she was just a sophomore at the time, Asselin became WVU’s third All-American in the sport when she finished 17th (14th in the team standings) with a time of 20:39 at the 2007 NCAA Championship. It was a fitting ending to an outstanding season that saw her post the team’s highest finish in the final five meets. Asselin showed glimpses of her abilities just weeks earlier at the Big East Championship where she took second and at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional race, where she placed third in leading her team to an overall second-place finish. Asselin, an all-Big East and all-Mid-Atlantic region selection, was joined by Keri Bland as an All-American, marking the first time in program history that two teammates earned the honor in the same season.

She continues to hold six top-five indoor program records and three top-five outdoor program records.

Sports Awards/Honors:
Cross Country: NCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Region (06,07,08,07), Big East Women’s Cross Country Individual Champion (2008), All-Big East (07,08,09), CoSIDA Academic All-America Second (2010) and Third (2009) Teams, CoSIDA Academic All- District First Team (08, 09, 10), USTFCCCA Cross Country All-America (07, 08, 09) and USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic (07, 08, 09)

Track and Field: Big East Indoor Outstanding Track Performance (2008),

Professional: Is now a registered nurse and living in Vermont.

Personal: Born December 1, 1988. Earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from West Virginia University.