NIACC's Spurling places 40th at nationals

NIACC's Olivia Spurling runs to a 40th-place finish Saturday at the NJCAA Division II national championships in Mechanicsville, Va.
NIACC's Olivia Spurling runs to a 40th-place finish Saturday at the NJCAA Division II national championships in Mechanicsville, Va.
November 9, 2024

MECHANICSVILLE, Va. - NIACC freshman Olivia Spurling placed 40th Saturday morning at the NJCAA Division II national championships at Pole Green Park.

Spurling clocked a career-best time of 19 minutes, 56 seconds on the 5-kilometer course. Spurling's time ranks 11th best in school history and she is one of 12 NIACC women's runners to break 20:00 in the 5K race.

Spurling's 40th place finish was the highest by a NIACC women's runner since Sarah Bertry claimed the national championship at the 2021 NJCAA Division II meet in Virginia in a time of 18:12.

NIACC placed 24th in the team standings. Mesa CC was the women's national champion, Paradise Valley CC was second and DMACC was third.

Also for the Trojans, sophomore Juliana Droll was 77th in a time of 20:47, sophomore Cloey Usher was 121st in 21:31, freshman Bridget Canton was 166th in 22:10 and freshman Emily Usher was 301st in 27:15.