INDIANAPOLIS – Sophomore All-American and three-time 5K national champion Neely Spence is Division II's female winner of the NCAA Student-Athlete Sportsmanship Award, given to an individual who has demonstrated one or more of the ideals of sportsmanship (fairness, civility, honesty, unselfishness, respect and responsibility) while in the competitive arena of intercollegiate athletics.

After winning the PSAC's female sportsmanship award earlier this year, Spence's act was presented to the NCAA for consideration at the national level. Spence, one of the top distance runners in the United States and the indoor and outdoor national champion in the 5K this season, was conserving energy during her 5K event at the at the 2010 PSAC Indoor Track & Field Championships in March in order to compete in other races for Shippensburg.

Despite this, Spence was aware that Mansfield's top distance runner, Brenae Edwards, was trying to post an automatic qualifying time to reach the national championships. Edwards was running on pace for nearly two miles by herself before Neely began her patented move forward to distance herself from the pack to win the race.

But with five laps to go, Spence did not make one solitary move to distance herself from Edwards. As Spence passed Edwards, she slowed her pace and began to encourage Brenae by telling her to keep up and to stay with her. For the next four laps, Edwards maintained Spence's pace while Neely was encouraging her competitor to stay close. With one lap to go, Spence used her superior kick to win the race, but her support had helped Edwards to make up the necessary ground and receive her automatic qualifying berth for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

After crossing the finish line as the PSAC champion, Spence seemed more excited for the fact that Edwards had achieved a personal-best time and was headed to nationals than by winning the conference championship. The two competitors exchanged hugs and tears after the race, with Spence saying to Edwards, “You did it! You're going to nationals!”

“It is an excellent example of sportsmanship at its finest,” said Mansfield coach Mike Rohl of Spence's actions. Rohl was responsible for recounting the story in the original nomination form sent to the PSAC office. “It is one of the more exciting things to happen and to witness, especially at an event as prestigious as our conference championships.”

Perhaps the best aspect of the story is its conclusion. At the running of the 5K from the national championships on March 13, Spence won her first individual indoor title while Edwards put forth a sensational final kick and earned third place to become Mansfield's first-ever indoor All-American in school history.

The two competitors became fast friends. They raced together once again in May at the 2010 Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where Spence repeated as the national champion and Edwards finished fifth to once again achieve All-American status.

“It's such a great story from what was a great year for both Brenae and Neely,” Rohl said. “I've been coaching for a long time and it's one of the most significant acts of sportsmanship I have witnessed.”

The selection was made by the Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct (CSEC) and the NCAA. A presentation will be held featuring a member of the CSEC sometime during the 2010-11 academic year.