CLINTON, Iowa - The Ashford University cross country and track and field squads received a recent commitment from Peyton Pachucki of Illinois City, Ill.

Pachucki will add immediate depth to a young Saints' cross country team and the emerging track and field program.

"Peyton is coming off another great year of competition," AU cross country Head Coach Tyson Graham commented. "She comes from a small program that has built its way up just like we are trying to do with our women's program here at Ashford."

Pachucki attended Rockridge High School where she contributed to a third-place sectional-qualifying effort in her senior year. In her junior year, she helped Rockridge to a runner-up finish in its sectional qualifier.

Pachucki was named Rockridge's Most Improved Runner as a freshman.

Pachucki, the daughter of Bryan and Wendy Fry, will look to start her studies in Natural Science when she arrives to campus this fall.