2012 USTFCCCA Division II All-Region

New Orleans, LA -- Following her stellar 6th place finish at the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships in Academy of Art University's first post season appearance this past Saturday, senior Jenny Bergren was among the nearly 400 athletes recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as All-Region award winners for cross country in Division II. Bergren, who earned the honor as one of the athletes of member schools that finished in the top 25 individually at one of the eight regional sites, further pioneered the ART U program by being the first Urban Knight to qualify for NCAA Nationals. She is also the lone All-Region honoree from the Pacific West Conference.

Breaking through a in a West Regional race that offered 170 of the best athletes from teams such as Chico State, Alaska Anchorage, and Humboldt State, Bergren's 6th place result was the second of the top three individuals not on a qualifying team and thus put her into the NCAA Championships pool. She turned in a time of 21:51.76 which edged Chico State's Sara Mikesell by two seconds and made her fifth overall among those finishing in their teams' first position.

“The feeling of making it to Nationals is like none other,” Bergren said. “This has been goal of mine for some time so when I found out I had a good cry! I feel so lucky to have the chance to race at Joplin and to have a great staff to support me.”

The recipient of an NCAA All-Region honor for her performance, Bergren will now head to the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships which are scheduled to be held on Saturday, Nov. 17 in Joplin, MO and will be hosted by Missouri Southern at the MSSU Cross Country Course.