NIACC's Bertry earns USTFCCCA weekly award

MASON CITY - NIACC sophomore Sarah Bertry was selected as the USTFCCCA NJCAA Division II cross country female athlete of the week on Monday.

It is the third time in her career that Bertry has won the national weekly award by the USTFCCCA. She won the award twice in the 2020 season (Sept. 29 and Oct. 13).

Last Friday, Bertry placed second at the Indian Hills Invitational on the Cedar Creek Golf Course. Bertry covered the 5-kilometer course in a time of 18 minutes, 58 seconds.

Iowa Western freshman Mercy Biwott was the individual champion in a time of 18:01.

In her three 5K races this season, Bertry has broken the 19-minute mark. She ran 18:50 at the Augustana Twilight meet and placed 16th, won the Trent Smith Invitational in 18:32 and clocked her 18:58 last Friday at the Indian Hills Invitational.

In her career at NIACC, Bertry has competed in 11 cross country races and placed first or second seven times and has placed in the top five in nine of the 11.