While some freshmen are learning about N.C. State history, Laura Hoer is making N.C. State history. The true freshmen out of Arden became only the sixth runner in the history of the Wolfpack cross country program, men or women, to win at least four races in a single season, the second freshmen.

              The very first race of the season for the women’s cross country was the Wolfpack Invitational held at Wake Med Soccer Park, the talk of the afternoon was none other than stand-out freshmen Laura Hoer, who set a 5k course record time of 17:00.8 and won the women’s race by an astounding 29.5 seconds.

              Just a week later, Hoer’s impressive individual performance was seen again, winning the Roy Griak Invitational at Minneapolis, Minn. Beginning her career with the Wolfpack, Hoer started the season undefeated.

              The 4-A cross country champion of 2009, Hoer went on to win two more races on the season: the ACC women’s championship in Boston, Mass., and the NCAA Southeast Regional Meet in Louisville, Ky., with a winning time of 19:54.5 on the 6k course.

              Going beyond all freshmen expectations, Hoer became the 41st All-American in the history of the N.C. State’s women’s program and only the 10th freshmen in Pack cross country program since Bona Jones in 2006. 

              At the NCAA championships, her performance time of 20:36.6 and place of 21st on the 6k course, helped Wolpack women’s cross country to finish 24th and top 25, the women have failed to finish in the top 25 just five times since 1981.

              In addition, outside of cross country, Hoer keeps up with her school work, earning her spot on the All-ACC Academic Women’s Cross Country Team In order to be eligible, student-athletes must have accumulated a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 average during their academic career, which Hoer exceeded.