Sporrer places fifth in NAIA steeplechase finals

MARION, Ind. — In her first season competing in the steeplechase competition, Morningside junior Courtney Sporrer is an All-American.

Sporrer on Friday placed fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10 minutes, 55.26 seconds. It was only the ninth time she has competed in the race that involves multiple obstacles.

Before the season, the junior from Logan, Iowa, hadn't competed in a race that involved hurdles or obstacles.

"The more I did it, the more comfortable I became," Sporrer said. "I had to learn about how to get over the barriers properly, so I could have a more efficient time. Making it to finals and placing fifth in the nation is an incredible feeling."

Sporrer led during the first five splits of the race. She crossed the first split in 42.41 seconds and in the fifth split, the Mustangs junior had the lead at the 6:28 mark. She said she wanted that strategy so that other runners couldn't box her in early.

"In the prelims, getting boxed in made me nervous and I didn't want that to happen in the finals," Sporrer said.

She held the No. 8 seed going into the finals. Earlier this week, she ran the steeplechase in 11:16.

That rounds out a successful season for Sporrer, who also qualified for the national cross country meet this fall.

"I'm super proud of Courtney's performance at nationals," Mustangs assistant coach Garret Ehlers '14 said. "She took all the experience she's gained and ran her race. She ran fearless from the front where she's learned to be comfortable in, and mentally attacked and implemented a lot of tools to push through when it got hard on the back half."