CWRU Athletics

Esther Erb Atkins is the most accomplished women's distance runner in the history of Case Western Reserve University.  She is a six-time All-American, and is one of 18 CWRU athletes in any sport to claim a National Championship, winning the title in the 10,000-meter run at the 2008 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  The title came during her senior season, when she claimed All-America honors all three seasons, also finishing 27th at the Cross Country Championships, fourth in the 5,000-meter run at the Indoor Championships, and sixth in the 5,000-meter run at the Outdoor Championships.  Erb previously had claimed All-America honors during her junior cross country (34th place at the NCAA Championships) and outdoor track and field (fifth in the 5,000-meter run) seasons.  In cross country, she claimed the 2007 UAA Championship and was a three-time All-UAA First Team honoree, while helping lead the team to the 2006 conference title.  Between indoor and outdoor track and field, she was named the UAA Most Outstanding Performer three times, claimed six individual and one relay league championship, and totaled 12 all-conference honors.  Erb set school records in the indoor mile and outdoor 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter runs that still stand to this day.  Esther was also selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team twice during her collegiate career.  Erb has gone on to compete professionally in the marathon, and represented the United States at the 2015 World Championships.  She won the US title in the marathon at the 2014 US Marathon Championships and has been working as a coach since 2013.