Nursing Student Heading to NCAA Championships

Runners

UMaine nursing major Corey Conner’s favorite academic experiences have come at the local level, where she is able to pursue her studies hands-on working alongside her professors in one of the area hospitals.

Outside of academics, however, Conner is making an impact at an international level. A senior on the UMaine cross country and track and field teams, Conner is a premier long-distance runner who has qualified for the 2012 NCAA Championships, which will be held June 6-9, in the 5,000 meter run. For a few days last year her she had the fastest time in the world in that event and has been ranked in the top 15 in the country this year. She also holds the UMaine and America East conference records in the 5,000 Although her world-best time was surpassed earlier this month, Conner is among the top NCAA Division I women in the 5,000 meters and holds the UMaine record in that event. She also placed 42nd in the 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Conner has also reached regional and national levels when it comes to academic awards. She has been named to all-academic teams by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, ESPN The Magazine/College Sports Information Directors of America, and the America East conference. She has also won the “M” Club’s Dean Smith Award, the highest academic honor given out by UMaine to a student-athlete.