A six-time NCAA Division III champion whose name became synonymous with 10,000m domination, Kelly Copps-Wood earned a spot in the USTFCCCA Division III Athlete Hall of Fame as one of DIII’s best-ever distance runners.
During a span from 1993 through 1995, Copps was unbeatable at 10,000m on the biggest stage: the NCAA Championships. She claimed three consecutive national crowns in 1993, 1994 and 1995, making her the only woman in Division III history to have won three straight titles at the distance.
Her prowess wasn’t limited to 10 kilometers, however. She paired her 10,000m title in 1994 with both indoor and outdoor 5000m titles, and her 1995 10,000m title came after she won the indoor 5000m crown. Following her titles in 1995, she earned Minnesota Woman of the Year honors from the NCAA. At the end of her career, she finished as an 11-time All-American between cross country and track, with 11 MIAC titles to her name. Her accolades off the track were just as impressive as her exploits on it. She was an Academic All-America selection and the recipient of an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship. Copps was inducted into the St. Thomas (Minn.) Hall of Fame in 2001 and was a member of the 2006 USTFCCCA Silver Anniversary Team.