MELBOURNE, Fla. – As voted upon by league administrators and head coaches, former Nova Southeastern University cross country and track star Alexandria Palm has been officially named as a first-team member of the Sunshine State Conference Women’s Cross Country All-Decade Team on Monday, January 25.
Originally out of Winnebago, Illinois, Palm was one of the most prolific women’s distance runners in NSU’s history and held a firm command in the conference during the early part of the decade. She was not only on the Sunshine State Conference All-Championship Team each year, but also an All-SSC First Team honoree each year of her career at NSU (2010-13) – earning SSC Runner of the Year in 2013. In addition, Palm collected USTFCCCA (US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) All-Region honors following all four seasons under head coach Bryan Hagopian.
“I graduated seven years ago and still fondly cherish all my memories, and am so grateful for my experiences at Nova Southeastern University,” Palm said. “Some of the best times of my life could not be possible without NSU, Coach Hagopian, and the support of the athletic department. However, I would not have become that accomplished athlete and student without the drive and support of my wonderful parents.”
Through her 24 career races, she collected six top-five finishes and seven top-10 finishes against an always-tough Florida-based field every time on the course. Palm finished her career with both the 5k (18:26.28) and 6k (21:50.00) NSU school records. Her medical training from NSU has helped make a difference in this past year’s adversity, recently taking over a trauma flight nurse position in northern California.
Kicking off her career with immediate accolades, Palm was named the 2010 SSC Freshman of the Year after finishing third as a rookie in 2010 at the SSC Championships and breaking both the 5k and 6k records at NSU. She was sixth in 2011 at the league meet as a sophomore, but captured the SSC Individual Championship her final two years – winning in both 2012 and 2013 – closing out with an NSU then-record 21:50.00 in the 6k.
Palm twice led NSU to the NCAA Division II National Championships. She placed third individually at the NCAA South Regional in 2012, leading NSU to a third-place team finish. In her final season, she finished as runner-up at the South Regional, again helping the Sharks to third place in the region. Her efforts also helped the Sharks to four consecutive SSC Runner-Up team finishes.
“She was one of the most gifted athletes I’ve ever coached,” Hagopian said.
“She had an unbelievable drive – hurt, sick, whatever, nothing was going to stop her from racing. A two-time conference champ in cross country and was a three-time captain. I’m proud of all of her accomplishments as well as what she has become as a medical professional. I can’t completely put into words how awesome I feel for her to receive this honor.”
Voters named 14 student-athletes from six programs as All-Decade honorees. Runner of the Decade honors went to Saint Leo University’s Colett Rampf, while the University of Tampa’s Jarrett Slaven earned Coach of the Decade. All-Decade voting took place among the league’s administrators and cross country coaches.
The 2010-19 SSC All-Decade awards include seven SSC Runner of the Year winners and three former Freshman of the Year honorees. Additionally, four women were recognized as All-SSC First Team four times, and seven were named First Team All-SSC three times.
SSC Women’s Cross Country from 2010 to 2019
Over the last 10 years, three SSC programs have hoisted the SSC meet trophy, led by Tampa with seven wins. Saint Leo won the conference title twice (2014 & 2016), and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University brought home one championship (2017). UT took home six consecutive regional championships (2010-14), while Saint Leo (2017) and Embry-Riddle (2018) both hang one banner. Four schools reached the NCAA finals site a total of 16 times over the past decade. Tampa made the finals seven times, including six straight from 2010 to 2015, followed by Saint Leo with five appearances. Nova Southeastern University and Embry-Riddle have represented the conference twice.
For a complete list of the SSC Women’s Cross Country All-Decade Teams, click here.
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