Campanian earns both National Championship and All-American status

HERKIMER, NY – Herkimer Generals cross country runner Victoria Campanian broke a 18-year streak with no championships on Saturday (11/8), coming in first place at Finger Lakes Community College with a time of 20:05.7, capturing an individual NJCAA DIII National Championship in the process.

Campanian, a Liberal Arts & Sciences: General Studies major at Herkimer College, won the Mountain Valley Conference Championship, Region III Championship and now National Championship in 2014. Her 20:05.7 was one minute and two seconds better than her time from 2013 where she finished in sixth place overall (21:07). It was also 21 seconds better than second-place finisher Stephanie Boucher of Mohawk Valley Community College.

In all, Campanian collected four first-place and three second-place finishes in 2014, only finishing out of the Top 10 once in nine races. The sophomore also earned a first team All-American nomination for coming in the top spot, gaining that honor now for a second season in a row.

“After finishing in 6th place last year at Nationals Tori had something to prove this year,” said Head Cross Country Coach Stephen Sydoriw. “She was well prepared and ready to go. As the team captain she was our quiet leader that led by example and let her legs do the talking.  She has earned All Mountain Valley Conference, All-Region, second team All-American and first team All-American in her two years at Herkimer College. Being the second runner in our program’s history to win a national championship is something to be proud of!”

-Giorgio Varlaro