Bickler locks down third career Heart Runner of the Week in final tune up before conference

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In their second and final race of October, Clarke University women's cross country senior Rory Bickler received her first Heart of America Athletic Conference Runner of the Week honor of the 2024 season following a top 10 finish at the Augustana Interregional Invitational last Saturday.

Bickler claims the Heart honor for the first time this season after receiving the weekly recognition twice in the 2023 campaign that finished with the Rose Creek, Minn. native qualifying and making a trip to the NAIA Championship race along with her teammate Jaycie Franco.

In Rock Island, Ill. last Saturday, Bickler would clock a time of 23:25 in the 6K race, just 22 seconds off of her own school record, to finish in seventh place out of a total of 264 runners.

Full Heart Release Here: https://heartofamericaconference.com/sports/mxc/2024-25/releases/20241021lplvem

With this being Bickler's final season with the Pride, she's looking to stake claim to more accolades as the season nears a close, already with both 6K and 5K school records and one appearance at the NAIA Championship, she will attempt to be the first member of Clarke's cross country program to qualify for nationals twice.

Bickler will get her shot to qualify in Clarke cross country's next race as they train for the Heart Championships to be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the second-straight season, as the race will be held at Seminole Valley Park, the home course of hosts Mount Mercy University.