GREENVILLE, SC - The NCCAA is pleased to announce Nina Daman of Campbellsville University as the 2024 Dr. Ray Bullock Award Recipient for Division I Women’s Cross Country.
 
While competing for the Tigers, Daman picked up her fastest career time earlier this season, finishing the prestigious Adidas Live in Lou Classic with a time of 19:20 in the 5K. Daman closed out the 2023 season with a 12^th place finish and a time of 23:19 in the 6K at the 2023 Mid-South Championship meet, her highest finish in her career, to earn All-Conference honors. Earlier this year, Daman finished 14^th at the Larry Young Invite with a time of 19:23 in the 5K.
 
Away from the course, Daman holds a 3.91 GPA while majoring with in art with a graphic design emphasis. She has been an NCCAA and NAIA Scholar-Athlete in both track & field and cross country and has earned Mid-South Conference Academic honors in both sports as well.
 
A senior from Louisville, Kentucky, Daman grew up as an orphan in China, living in an overcrowded orphanage without the resources or leadership to properly take care of her. However, Daman was adopted by a family that puts the Lord first in everything they do. This has led to Daman becoming a leader in the Campbellsville FCA, as a member of the Campbellsville and Mid-South Conference Athletic Leadership Team, and a member of 3Trees Church. Daman has also been on a mission trip to Alaska with the athletes from Campbellsville University. 
 
“The great thing about Nina is the joy with which she lives her life with,” says Campbellsville Cross Country Coach Corbin Harris. “You would have no idea of the traumatic experiences she had when she was young. Even as a child, she used the impact of her time in an orphanage to rely on the Lord and that is every present in her daily walk. Nina is absolutely fearless. Even as quiet and shy as she can be, she is quick to share how the Lord delivered her and is willing to pour into and serve each and every one with whom she comes into contact with. Nina's joy for life and joy for the Lord is one of the most infectious personalities I have ever been around. This can be seen as a member of our team, but also how she serves in her church, campus, and community.”
 
Daman is the first NCCAA athlete to earn the Bullock Award for NCCAA DI Women’s Cross Country in back-to-back seasons since the award was introduced in 2002. 
 
Other Finalists
Lexie Engstrom, Ohio Christian University
Kylee Gray, Malone University
Rebecca Loya, College of the Ozarks
Ava Miller, Asbury University
 
Award Description
For many years, Dr. Ray Bullock dedicated himself to the development of cross country as a sport in general, but also as a ministry within the NCCAA. The NCCAA Hall of Famer (1999) led his teams to over 10 total NCCAA and NAIA national championships and coached dozens of All-Americans. Bullock has impacted the lives of countless student-athletes and coaches through his mentoring and sacrifice.