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Sara Hearn ’21 won her second national championship in two years in the intermediate over-fences category at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association’s national championships.

Hearn, a dedicated equestrian, chose to come to Mount Holyoke in part for its , one of the few on-campus varsity-level equestrian programs in the northeast. The facility houses about 55 horses and hosts about 165 riders and four teams that compete on the national level.

“Sara exemplifies dedication, commitment, athletic ability, true sportsmanship and what a top athlete is at ������ý College,” said , head coach for the College. “She is a smart rider who is able to think quickly and trust her instincts. She has the presences of a winner — and she is a winner!”

To win the national championship, Hearn had to score enough points in local competitions to qualify for the regional championship. Then she had to place in the top two slots of the regional championship. Finally, she needed  to place high enough in the Zone 1 competition to earn a spot at the national competition, held May 2 in Syracuse, New York.

Hearn is from Tallahassee, Florida, and has been riding for 10 years.

“It’s an unreal feeling,” said Hearn, a psychology major with a minor in chemistry. “To win once at this level is amazing. But to have the opportunity to do it again — I can’t even express it. I’m so grateful.”