SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) – Senior captain Sarah Costello of Palmyra (Palmyra H.S.) is this season's recipient of the Ashley Shell Tomlinson Class of 1997 Memorial Award for her efforts on the Susquehanna University women's cross country team this past season. It has been awarded the past three years to the member of the men's or women's cross country team who displays exceptional commitment and enthusiasm for the sport, the team and the university.
Costello was one of the top runners on this season's team, which finished fourth at the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships, and 13th at the NCAA Division III Mid-East Regional under new head coach Craig Penney. Her best finish this season was second out of 85 runners at the Susquehanna University Invitational on October 2, and she recorded the team's best time of the season at the Penn State University Spiked Shoe Invitational on September 18. She completed the 5,000-meter course in 19:49.70. Costello also finished 18th out of 114 runners (20:27.85) at the MAC Championships on October 30 at Allentown College, and 56th out of 235 (20:27.80) at the Mid-East Regional on November 13 at Frostburg State University.
"Sarah exemplifies the quality of the Susquehanna student-athlete. She's dedicated, hard-working, and has a love of the sport," said Penney. "I'm very excited and very congratulatory towards Sarah for earning this award."
A marketing major, Costello is the daughter of Keith and Louise Costello.
Tomlinson was a four-year letterwinner on the Crusader women's cross country team from Doylestown (Central Bucks East H.S.) before graduating from Susquehanna with her bachelor's degree in history in December 1996. She was killed tragically in an automobile accident near her hometown shortly after graduation.
The award was created in Tomlinson's name with the cooperation of her parents -- John and Juliette Tomlinson – and former Crusader cross-country coaches Dick Hess and Randi Kunkel, and members of the team. The award will be permanently housed in the Susquehanna Athletics Department next to a framed photo of the late Tomlinson, donated by her parents.
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