ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. -- Elizabethtown College Athletics announced Maria Anderson '18 as the new Associate Head Coach of Track & Field and Cross Country.

"I'm so grateful for all the time I have spent as an assistant coach for the cross country and track & field teams," Anderson said. "I'm very excited to continue assisting the development of the programs."

Anderson takes over the role for long-time track & field head coach Joel Hoffsmith after he stepped away after 20 seasons at the College.

An All-Region honoree in both cross country and track & field for the Blue Jays, Anderson has plenty of familiarity with Etown after her years as a student-athlete (2014-18) and assistant coach at Etown (2018-23).

"Being a member of the team provided me with so many experiences as a student-athlete and I'm thankful for the opportunity to now give back to the same programs," Anderson said.

During her time as an undergrad at Etown, Anderson had a stellar career for the Blue Jays between cross country and track & field. She was a four-time team champion in XC and a four-time All-Landmark Conference selection, including the 2014 Landmark XC Rookie of the Year. She also competed at the NCAA XC Championships for Etown all four years and finished 65^th at the DIII meet as a senior in 2017.

On the track, she was a five-time all-conference honoree and one of only two student-athletes in women's program history to run sub-11:00 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Anderson's time of 10:56.39 run at the 2018 Penn Relays ranks second all-time. She also won the Landmark gold in the steeple on her home track in 2018 with a facility record.

"We're thrilled that Coach Anderson's role within our program will be expanding," Elizabethtown College Director of Cross Country and Track & Field, Brian Falk said. "She's served our student-athletes with patience and devotion throughout her time on staff and I'm looking forward to seeing her day-to-day influence increase."

Anderson graduated from Elizabethtown College with her bachelor's in fine arts in 2018 and earned her master's in art education from Millersville University in 2022.