The Rush on the Runway: Nursing Student-Athlete Ashley Preston Melds Preparation and Precision on the Road to Championships

“I love the adrenaline rush I get every time I step on the runway,” says Ashley Preston. On a regular basis, Ashley - deliberately - launches herself into the sky more than 13 feet (nearly three times her height) with a flexible carbon pole that is just as long. She is a five feet tall powerhouse who is also ready to launch herself into her nursing career, potentially aiming for the neonatal intensive care unit. After earning her BS in psychology at Villanova, Ashley entered the 14-month Second Degree Accelerated BSN track which she completes this summer.

Across her five years on Villanova’s D-1 Track and Field team, among many other honors, Ashley has become a four-time Big East Conference Champion in her event, most recently in May 2023. In this interview, the Franklinville, NJ native and pole vault champion talks challenges, wins and discipline.

Thanks to Ashley for sharing her answers with sophomore nursing student Lauren Casimiro for this story.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR SPORT?

I love that it’s a team sport, but that it also requires individual performances because it gives you the best of both worlds. For my specific event, I love the adrenaline rush I get every time I step on the runway. There’s a bunch of things that have to go well from the time I start running until the time I land on the pit which makes it that much more exciting to me when things go well.

WHAT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR SPORT OR HOW YOU PLAY IT?

I think it would surprise people how long the poles are that we use. The poles I use range from 12ft to 13ft 6in. I think it is also surprising for people when they realize that I am only 5ft.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN TERMS OF YOUR PERSONAL OR TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS?

I’m most proud of winning Big East and qualifying for Regionals my freshman year. I’m also proud of placing 2^nd place or better at every single Big East meet that I’ve attended since my freshman year.

DESCRIBE THE TIME COMMITMENT

The time commitment is year-round. We compete in the Fall semester and the Spring semester, but practice continues all year round. Practice also occurs on weekends during the Fall semester. The truth is the time commitment is huge, but it is definitely worth it in my opinion.

WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DOES SOMEONE NEED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL NURSING STUDENT-ATHLETE?

You definitely have to be motivated and driven because it’s very easy to fall behind in both practice and schoolwork. You have to be disciplined enough to plan out your entire week and designate certain times to certain tasks. Class and practice take up most of my day, but I still need to make sure I’m setting time aside to study, do assignments, and prepare for classes. It’s also important to have patience and remember that perseverance is the biggest key. Things will not always work out the way you plan, but it’s important to not let it consume you.

WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES AS A NURSING STUDENT-ATHLETE?

My biggest challenges include not letting a bad practice or a stressful academic week impact my other areas of focus. It’s difficult at times to get everything done during the week since most of my weekends are competition days, but I have to remind myself to keep them separate or else it becomes really easy to spiral.

WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION AS EITHER AN ATHLETE OR NURSING STUDENT?

As an athlete and as a nursing student, my inspiration comes from wanting to make my younger self and my family proud. I’m a first-generation college student who is a DI college athlete that’s getting ready to graduate with 2 degrees in 5 years. I owe it all to my family because they’ve been supporting me from the very beginning.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR NURSING CAREER?

I haven’t decided 100% yet, but I really want to help the younger population both physically and mentally. I want them to know that anything they can dream of is possible, while also helping them regain their physical strength. I think I’ll end up working somewhere in pediatrics.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN INCOMING NURSING STUDENT-ATHLETE?

My biggest piece of advice is to be prepared from the very beginning. Don’t slack off or fall behind during the first few weeks because after that it can become a never-ending game of catch-up. Read the textbook and look over the PPT slides before class. This helps you better understand the material when you go to class and can help decrease your studying time afterwards, especially since you already have limited time.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE?

Never underestimate yourself and the goals you have. Be your own biggest fan because it really goes a long way.