WC’s Faith Duncan named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week for 2nd time this season

Faith Duncan continues to make history this season for the Wilmington Quakers women’s cross-country program. On Monday afternoon, she became the first cross-country runner, male or female, in Wilmington College history to be named U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athlete of the Week more than once in their Quakers career.

The other time this season that she earned this honor was Sept. 23.

Duncan (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon HS) achieved this feat after winning the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) individual championship by nearly a minute and 30 seconds Saturday afternoon at Hillcrest Golf Course in Findlay.

Her winning time was 19:49.2, which is one of the fastest 6K times in NCAA Division III history. She is just the second woman since 2008 to break the 20-minute mark and is thought to be just the third ever, along with Missy Butry of Wartburg College and Fiona Smith of the College of Saint Benedict.

Duncan has won all six races she has competed in this season and hasn’t lost a race since April 19 during Outdoor Track & Field season at the Otterbein Twilight meet.

She will be in action next at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional race on Nov. 16.

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.