WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University junior Tara Dooley (Lee/Lee HS), already cited as the top performer in the conference and region during the 2013 women's cross country season, has been selected as the recipient of the Northeast-10 Conference Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award for her sport.

Dooley finished fourth in the NCAA Division II Championships out in Spokane, Wash. to become Bentley's first-ever All-America in women's cross country. Her season also included capturing the individual championship at the NCAA Division II East Regional and finishing third overall, behind a pair of Division I runners, at the New England Championships.

Dooley's efforts also earned her Northeast-10 Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year and USTFCCCA Division II East Region Runner of the Year. She was also selected for the Academic All-Northeast-10 for the second time.

Dooley, Bentley's number one runner in every race she's participated in during her three collegiate seasons, has qualified for the nationals each year and was the runner-up in the NCAA Regional in both 2011 and 2012. Amazingly, she never competed in a cross country race before her arrival on the Bentley campus.

In the classroom, Dooley has excelled as well, compiling a sparkling 3.88 grade point average while majoring in accountancy.  A five-time member of the President's List, she's spending the spring semester studying abroad in Grenoble, France.

"Being named the recipient of the NE-10 Sport Excellence Award is well-deserved honor for Tara," said coach Kevin Curtin. "Since the day she has arrived on campus, she has always been willing to work hard and prepare, both in the classroom and in cross country, and it's just great to see all her hard work pay off for her."