For Immediate Release
Saturday, November 7, 2026
NSIC Media Relations

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Mary's Hannah Westin was voted by the league coaches as the winner of the NSIC Women’s Cross Country Outstanding Senior of the Year Award.  The native of Bismarck, North Dakota holds a 3.99 grade point average while majoring in occupational therapy. She was presented the award following the NSIC Cross Country Championships, which took place at Yankton Trails in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; hosted by Augustana University.
 
The “NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year Award” is presented to a NSIC women’s cross country student-athlete who participates at their institution for four years and is academically superior while making a positive contribution to their team and the University. The NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year award was initiated in 2020-21 to honor an outstanding senior that exemplifies the attributes of the model NSIC student-athlete.
 
Westin has been a key member of the Marauders' cross country program, helping the team qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships in 2023 and 2024. UMary finished 19th nationally in 2023 and 18th in 2024, with Westin competing as part of the team's top seven. Individually, she placed 67th at the 2023 NSIC Championships and 47th at the 2024 conference meet. She also competed at the NCAA Central Region Championships both seasons. In 2024, she established a personal best in the 6-kilometer race with a time of 22:35.8 at the Marauders Open. During 2025 season, Westin placed 24th at the NSIC Championships and 82nd at the NCAA Central Region Championships.

In the classroom, Westin has maintained a 3.99 GPA and earned summa cum laude honors while making the Dean’s List every year. She is a two-time recipient of the NSIC Academic Team of Excellence honor in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. Westin was also named a Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award winner.

Westin has been involved in several community service initiatives, volunteering at the Bismarck Marathon and the Carlie Mulm Memorial 5K Walk/Run. She has also participated in Days of Service at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and Dakota Zoo and served as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative for women's cross country during the 2025-26 academic year.

“Hannah has been an exceptional student-athlete and is the definition of University of Mary cross country and track and field team values and culture,” said Head Coach Cale Korbelik. “She has been a team captain since her sophomore year and has consistently made a positive impact on her teammates beyond her athletic accomplishments. She continues to lead by example and inspire those around her with her vocal leadership. She is someone who is always there for her teammates.”

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past three decades, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 128 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.