HONORS AND AWARDS
All-Missouri Valley Conference (Cross Country): 2017
All-MVC Honorable Mention (Cross Country): 2016
MVC Scholar-Athlete (Cross Country): 2016, 2017
MVC Scholar-Athlete (Track & Field): 2017
Bradley COUNTRY Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week: 10-04-17
MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award: 2016, 2019
MVC Honor Roll: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll (8): Fall '15, Spring '16, Fall '16, Spring '17, Fall '17, Spring '18, Fall '18, Spring '19
CAREER BESTS & RESULTS
2018-19 SEASON
Cross Country: Ran in four meets during her senior campaign • Clocked season-best times of 19:55.6 in the 5K at Illinois and 23:34.0 in the 6K at the Bradley Pink Classic.
Indoor: Did not compete during the indoor season.
Outdoor: Did not run during the outdoor season.
2017-18 SEASON
Cross Country: Earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors • Recorded the seventh-best 5K time in school history at 17:31.95 to place fourth at the MVC Championship, leading the Braves to the team championship • Also finished first on the team at the Sam Bell Invitational, placing 22nd overall • Posted a PR in the 6K at the NCAA Midwest Regional, clocking a time of 21:27.10 • Finished in the team’s top four in all five meets she ran in 2017.
Indoor: Ran the 3,000m during the indoor season • Posted a season-best time of 10:15.56 at the MVC Championship, placing 19th overall.
Outdoor: Set season-best times with a 4:54.44 in the 1,500m, 10:42.19 in the 3,000m and 17:52.32 in the 5,000m.
2016-17 SEASON
Cross Country: Received honorable mention to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Team • Finished among the team’s top-three finishers in three of seven meets during the season • Placed 14th at the MVC Championship to help Bradley to a second-place finish • Led the Braves at the Hawkeye Early Bird with a 3K time of 10:48.3 • Also placed fourth overall at the Illini Classic.
Indoor: Placed in the top 10 at two events of the MVC Championship • Finished eighth in the 5,000m run with a career-best time of 17:26.86 – the eighth-quickest time in school history • Also placed ninth in the 3,000m run • Set her PR in the 3,000m at the GVSU Big Meet, crossing the finish line and ranking ninth in BU history in 10:02.39 • Also ran the mile at the Illini Classic in 5:21.32.
Outdoor: Finished 13th at the MVC Championship in the 5,000m run and 14th in the 10,000m run • Won the 5,000m at the Crusader Open • Ranks 10th in the Bradley record book with her time of 36:38.00 in the 10,000m, accomplished at the Mt. SAC Relays • Also set PRs in the 5,000m run at San Francisco State (17:41.59) and in the 1,500m run at Southern Illinois (4:50.78).
2015-16 SEASON
Cross Country: Turned in a season-best 5K time at the Illini Open to close out the cross country season • Started the year with a fourth-place showing at the Western Illinois Early Bird and finished third at the Bradley Invitational.
Indoor: Improved her 3,000m time each time out during the indoor season, closing the year with a season-best effort of 10:20.88 at the MVC Indoor Championship • Also ran in the mile during the indoor season.
Outdoor: Opened the outdoor season by winning the 5,000m at the Bill Cornell Spring Classic • Clocked a season-best 17:42.09 in the 5,000m at the MVC Outdoor Championship.
HIGH SCHOOL
Three-time team MVP • Ran at the state championship three of her four prep seasons • Helped the Wildcats to a second-place regional finish as a freshman and a third-place sectional showing her junior year • Took third in the 3,200m at sectionals during the 2015 track season.
PERSONAL
The daughter of Kim Dirksen and Joe Piller, Sara was born in Normal, Ill. • One younger brother, Nicholas • Majoring in nursing.
