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Each year, many NIRCA participants take to road racing in addition to cross country racing in the fall. While many popular and local road races are similar in distance to cross country distances, some of the ever increasingly popular distances are much more daunting, namely, the half marathon and marathon distances. The half marathon and marathon road racing scene has begun to rapidly increase in popularity in recent years, and these races involve a great deal of commitment along with many new challenges.

The addition of track to this year’s 2012 spring nationals appeared to be the added incentive for teams to make the trip to Bloomington, IN. The NIRCA half marathon team championship, once again paired with the IU mini, drew the interest of 135 NIRCA participants divided between 8 women’s and 11 men’s team. Returning team champions Iowa State (men) and University of Cincinnati (women) were both in attendance to defend their title, and well aware of the increase in competition as all events in NIRCA see year after year. 

IURunClub (@IURunClub)
Congratulations to all our runners on an amazing weekend at @nirca nationals! Full results will be up asap. #iurc #nircanats

20 clubs and nearly 300 runners prepare to make the journey to Indiana University and Bloomington, Indiana this weekend in anticipation for the first-ever NIRCA Road and Track National Championships. This eclipses the first-ever Cross Country Nationals, held in 2006, which saw just over 200 runners from 12 different universities.

Mike Williams (@MikeWilliams117)
@nirca nationals 2012 in Hershey PA? Sounds like home field advantage for @PSUClubXC #winningthealumnirace

Hershey, PA – March 19, 2012 – NIRCA will host the 2012 Cross Country National Championships in Hershey, Pennsylvania over the weekend of November 10, 2012. Following discussions at the 2012 Winter Conference calling for a central location for the 2012 event, Hershey was selected as the site for the event. This decision comes from a desire for a destination that will foster the club camaraderie NIRCA events are known for. Priority was also given for a central location, with nearly 40 clubs within a 7-hour drive and with Philadelphia and Harrisburg airports close by.

East Lansing, MI – It was only a matter of time before the timeless in-state rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans took to the track.  B1G Ten Championships and NCAA tournaments aside, club runners from UofM and MSU finally had a chance to start their own legacy by competing in the first ever club dual meet between the two schools.

Fullerton, CA – Cal Poly Distance Club competed in its second track meet of the 2012 season this weekend at California State University–Fullerton's Ben Brown Invitational. The Mustangs took part in the 1500 meter and 3000 meter steeplechase events. Chris Sandstrom highlighted the 1500 field with a 4:08.63 performance that led to a victory in his heat. Cal Poly's Ruben Baerga ran up front from the start, while Sandstrom laid back and worked his way through the field. On the final lap, Sandstrom beat Brandon Haugen, the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross Country Freshman of the Year, to the finish line.