Olivia Russo
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- Hometown:
- Council Bluffs, Iowa
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- Year:
- Sr.
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- Previous School(s):
- Iowa Western CC/Tri-Center HS
News mentions
Madison Nelson punched her third ticket in three years to the NAIA National Cross Country Championship with her runner-up finish at Friday's North Star Athletic Association cross country meet. Hosted by Viterbo at Maple Grove Venues outside of LaCrosse, the meet was held in perfect running conditions with temperatures in the mid-40's and overcast skies.
A perfect day for cross country greeted nearly 600 runners at the first Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic on Saturday morning at Mahoney State Park. Meet hosts Doane and College of St. Mary assembled a field of nationally ranked NAIA teams and brought them to Nebraska for the first time. The Bruin cross country team used the occasion for one final tune-up race prior to the NSAA championship in two weeks and came away with two personal bests.
Perfect weather conditions and a fast course contributed to personal best times at Saturday's Charger Invite hosted by Briar Cliff at the Adams Nature Preserve course. Every Bruin who competed set a lifetime best at their respective distances: eight kilometers (4.97 miles) for the men and six kilometers (3.73 miles) for the women. Sunny skies, a light breeze, and temperatures near 50 created ideal running conditions over the hard-packed crushed limestone loop around the preserve.
Former Wayne State Wildcat and current Bruin Collin Kotz returned to the Wayne Country Club, site of Friday's Wildcat Cross Country Classic, and delivered a top 10 finish to lead all Bruin runners.
In the women's five-kilometer event, all four Bruin entries improved on their initial outing at Augustana from two weeks ago. Madison Nelson led the way for the Bruins, cutting a half minute from her time at Augie. Nelson finished in 18:38.6 to place 63rd overall, 24th among non-DI, and eighth among NAIA runners. Alicia Rivera Camargo placed 183rd in 20:48.0, and Olivia Russo ran 22:15.6 for 252nd, both running faster times on a significantly more difficult course, while Ashley Guatemala was a full two minutes faster with her 23:28.2 in 283rd place. Runners from Division II Winona State (MN) went one-two to lead their team to the title.
The Bruin men's and women's cross country squads opened their 2023 season on Friday night in Sioux Falls with their inaugural entry into the Augustana Twilight Cross Country Meet. Thirty-seven teams from NCAA Division I to junior college ran under the lights at Yankton Trails Park. Conditions were warm even after sundown, with temperatures in the mid-80s and a warm south wind.