2012 NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country National Championship Results

Joplin, MO -- Crossing 22 spots higher than her projected finish halfway through, senior Jenny Bergren made Academy of Art University proud Saturday morning at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Her 15th place result, the highest of any individual qualifier, earned her the honor of becoming the Urban Knights' first All-American in program history and her time of 21:01.6 was a seasonal best on the 6k Missouri Southern Cross Country Course.

"At the starting line, all I was thinking was Top 40 over and over in my head," Bergren said. "As the race progressed, it was so hectic that I was just trying to relax and get into a rhythm. The last half, I kept telling myself to relax, hold and don't think."

"Champions always find a way to rise to the occasion," head coach Charles Ryan said. "Today, Jenny showed the championship pedigree that will define the 2012-13 season for ART U. She ran the race of her life, on the biggest stage of her life, and what more could anyone ask for? She finished 22 spots higher than projected, only 58 seconds off of the leader. That is an amazing performance. But even bigger than all that is what her performance today and season as a whole represents for this program, athletic department, and Academy of Art University. NCAA All-American. It's no longer a hope, a wish, a vision; it's now reality. Jenny Bergren is proof for anyone who still doubts what can be accomplished at the NCAA level from an art school. She just validated all the hard work of so many people, I don't even know if she fully grasps what she accomplished today, but I hope she finds a moment to take it all in. Simply amazing."

"Jenny had never been to Nationals before, Academy of Art University had never been to Nationals before, and I had never seen Division II Nationals before so this experience was as new as it could possibly be for all of us," assistant coach  Torrey Olson said. "Afterwards, the first thing she said was, 'That was so hard.' We are incredibly proud of how Jenny perfectly executed her race in such a new environment today."

According to Coach Olson, Bergren was 80th overall after the first mile and then, at approximate the 3k mark, she had already begun her push to move up. Halfway through, she was 37th overall and only continued to climb. She would pass 22 more runners on what was considered the tougher portion of the course as it continued uphill after a downhill first half.

"Though she was not where she wanted to be early on, Jenny was able to do what she wanted to do for the rest of the race so that was remarkable especially on a challenging course that was uphill during the second half," Coach Olson said. "She responded incredibly for doing something like this for the first time so we are really excited about what she accomplished."

Bergren's 15th place result was the third highest from the West Region, a three-spot improvement from her performance at the NCAA DII West Regional Championships in early November. And her 21:01.6 time was Bergren's second lowest on a 6k course in her collegiate career. Coach Olson explained that the mark she posted in the second half of the course put her in a special class of athletes who offered a faster second portion.

"It feels pretty good to be in the Top 15 and to be the Academy's first All-American!" Bergren said. "People kept asking where the Academy of Art University was and I would proudly tell them San Francisco. It feels good to get the school's name out there."


The achievements of Coach Olson, supporting Bergren and ART U cross country every step of the way did not go unnoticed by Coach Ryan.

"Torrey Olson is the architect of today's masterful performance," Coach Ryan said. "He has done such a great job this year. I really have a hard time putting into words what he has meant to this program. I'm so proud to see the payoff for all his dedication. Torrey came in and hit the ground running, he was handed an incredible challenge and has exceeded all expectations this year. I could not ask for a better assistant. Our distance runners will be in fine hands for years to come and, if this is the start of his tenure here, I cannot wait to see what the future holds."

This appearance at Nationals caps not only an exquisite cross country career for Bergren, but also the 2012 Academy of Art University cross country season itself. However, all athletes return to run in the indoor track & field season set to begin on Dec. 1 at Boise State.

"It has been quite an experience," Bergren said. "Making it to Nationals and placing Top 15 has been incredible. I wouldn't have changed anything."