Ashleigh McArdle '25 Recruiting Profile

Hi  My name is Ashleigh McArdle, I’m an Irish based Track and field international athlete graduating high school in 2025. I am a member of Lifford Strabane A.C in County Donegal, and Northern Ireland Youth Acadmey. I attend Holy Cross College in strabane a mixed ability school where I am situated in the top academic grammar stream. I am highly thought of throughout the school due to my athletic and academic abilities. My chosen sport is track and field and I am a multi event heptathlete/ pentathlete which also specialises in 300mh at international level. I look forward to study a degree in a high academic university in the USA which will allow me to train with like minded individuals and a competitive group in Division 1 of NCAA in addition to my academic studies.  

My PBs from this season were a huge part of me recovering from a back injury (2022) which put me out of training for 6 months. From 2022 I have completed several rehabilitation and strength and condition to advance my recovery and fitness. This has an effect on my selections for competitions this year but I still represented Ireland in Scotland for the Shot putt where I placed Third. My desired goal for the upcoming season is to compete in a heptathlon with my full potential and being fully able as this seasons goal was to maintain injury free which was successful. Having this injury changed my perspective it made me realise my love for the sport and I came back physically stronger when I returned. I am already back fully training and have won my ulster Schools multi events and now compete in the All Ireland Schools in November. Ive started back training for my upcoming season and am training to my full potential and working extremely hard which will ensure me to surpass my baseline pbs from this year. 

As I've now completed 3 heptathlons in 2024, I feel I'm getting stronger and I fully understand how to maximise my scores.  And when 2025 is here I know I can hit 5000pts . 

I am very passionate about Track and field and enjoy particularly training with my Northern Ireland Youth Academy as I am training with like minded individuals who all aspire and have the same admirations and we are all committed within our sports. My studies did not slack throughout my year of GCSE education as I have a good time management. I am very passionate about success and am happy to take on all advice from any to help me academically and within track and field.

For my academics I am interested and keen to advance my knowledge in the following subjects; Business management/ Management; Real Estate; Law; Or any Sports related Course. 

Aside from my success as a track and field athlete I was also a dancer. I obtained grade 5 in Tap and lyrical. I have a natural flare for sports and I loved to express myself through dance.

During this academic year I am particularly focusing on my strength and speed for the 2024 season whilst taking on 3 A-Level Subjects- Health and Social Care and Double Sports. I am fully committed within my sports and academics and excited to see what this year ahead brings.

Within track and field I would like to continue my training within the Heptathlon and am looking for a college coach team which will help me.  As I have only ever competed in one heptathlon ( Although I have competed at high levels within the individual events) . I feel I have so much more potential and I feel I am very suited for this event and I am determined that I will finally showcase my true abilities within the next year and continue for the rest of my career. My short term goal is to keep injury free and achieve selection for European or World u20 in the Heptathlon representing Ireland again. Representing my country made me feel a sense of accomplishment and a new level of adrenaline and fight which I would love to bring and show to a college in the USA. I aspire to compete for a Div 1 US College team and furthering it to competing in the NCAA.  

My athletics history can be found on

THE POWER OF 10

Ashleigh McArdle  club Lifford Strabane A.C 

I know what I have to do to achieve these high standards and I am willing to put in all the work I can as I take inspiration from multiple USA college athletes.