Kelley (Peterson) Snyder

Kelley (Peterson) Snyder was the first female athlete at Wayne State College to earn All-American honors. She was a six-time All-American in track and field during her career at Wayne State College from 1981 to 1984. Peterson finished sixth place in the 60-yard hurdles (8.63 seconds) at the NAIA Indoor Nationals in 1982 to become the first-ever female All-American athlete at Wayne State. She finished third in the 100-meter hurdles (14.54) at the 1982 NAIA Outdoor Championships to also capture All-American honors. In 1983, Peterson earned All-American honors in two events, placing fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (14.8) and was one of four runners on the 400-meter relay team that placed sixth in 49.01 seconds. She was also selected an Academic All-American in 1983. Peterson closed out her brilliant track career with two All-American finishes at the 1984 NAIA Outdoor Championships, placing fourth in the 100-meter hurdles and running a leg on the fourth place 800-meter medley relay team. At the time of her induction, she held the school records for the 55-meter hurdles (indoors) at 8.23 seconds, set in 1982, and the 100-meter hurdle record for outdoor track, set in 1984, at 14.10 seconds. Her name also appeared on the school record for the 400-meter relay in outdoor track, set in 1982. Peterson Snyder was inducted into the WSC Athletics Hall of Fame in the fall of 1989.