LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Sophomore All-American and three-time 5K national champion Neely Spence is the female winner of the second annual PSAC Sportsmanship Award, given to the athlete who has demonstrated the values of respect and integrity through a specific action directed toward an opponent.

Spence's act of sportsmanship was nominated by Mansfield University after it was observed at the 2010 PSAC Indoor Track & Field Championships in March. 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 conference meet 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 caught her from behind and began to make her patented move 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 slightly and began to encourage Brenae by telling her to keep up the pace and to stay with her. For the next four laps, Spence maintained Edwards' pace while encouraging her to stay close. With one lap to go, Spence used her superior kick to win the race, but her support 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!”

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.

The PSAC Sportsmanship award was created last year by the PSAC's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Nominees must also have represented their institution in a positive way during competition and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of competition by fostering a good public image. Clarion's Jamie Maloney was the inaugural PSAC winner and later won the Division II Sportsmanship award from the NCAA.

Spence will be recommended by the PSAC for award consideration at the national level.