CARY, NC – Melissa Terwilliger became the first NCAA All-American in Clarion University women’s cross country history with a 17^th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships Saturday at St. Augustine’s College.

"Melissa is gamer," Clarion’s 10^th-year head coach Pat Mooney said. "She came out today and ran her best race of the season. She really worked hard to achieve this goal."

Terwilliger finished the six kilometer race in 22:09.9 just 23 seconds out of the top 10 and 1:37 off the lead.

With the All-American award, Terwilliger is now an AA in both cross country and track and field. She earned All-American honors in the 10,000-meter run at last spring’s NCAA D-II Track and Field meet with a fifth-place finish.

"That is a very good accomplishment," Mooney said. "It was one of her goals this fall to became an All-American in cross country after accomplishing the feat in track last spring."