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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Nicole Mericle has become a premier performer in the |
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| 6 | 7 | | sport of obstacle course racing, earning numerous podium finishes |
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| 7 | 8 | | and multiple North American and world titles over the past three |
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| 8 | 9 | | years; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, After competing as a cross-country and track runner |
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| 10 | 11 | | at Rice University and honing her skills in rock climbing, |
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| 11 | 12 | | Ms. Mericle opted to take part in obstacle course racing, which |
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| 12 | 13 | | combines distance running with a variety of extreme physical |
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| 13 | 14 | | challenges; her first OCR was the Fort Carson Spartan Super in May |
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| 14 | 15 | | 2016, where she took the bronze medal; the following year, she won |
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| 15 | 16 | | the OCR 3K World Championship, the Tougher Mudder World |
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| 16 | 17 | | Championship, and the OCR 3K and 15K North American Championships; |
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| 17 | 18 | | she closed out 2017 with podium appearances in the Spartan World |
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| 18 | 19 | | Championship Series and a gold medal in the women's team division in |
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| 19 | 20 | | the OCR World Championship, and she more recently took home the |
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| 20 | 21 | | silver with her team in the Spartan World Championships; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, In the fall and winter of 2018, Ms. Mericle focused |
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| 22 | 23 | | on international events, tallying first-place finishes in the 3K |
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| 23 | 24 | | and women's team events at the OCR World Championship in England and |
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| 24 | 25 | | claiming second place at the Trifecta World Championships in |
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| 25 | 26 | | Greece; she has continued to add to her impressive total of |
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| 26 | 27 | | first-place finishes in 2019, turning in winning performances in |
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| 27 | 28 | | competitions around the country; in recognition of her elite status |
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| 28 | 29 | | in the sport, she has garnered sponsorships with such brands as |
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| 29 | 30 | | Spartan, AltRed, Darn Tough, and Honey Stinger; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Mericle's intensive training regimen includes |
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| 31 | 32 | | running, weight lifting, rock climbing, and other activities to |
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| 32 | 33 | | build strength and endurance; an EMT, she is studying to become a |
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| 33 | 34 | | physician assistant in Boulder, Colorado; and |
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| 34 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Through her exceptional ability, hard work, and |
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| 35 | 36 | | commitment to excellence, Nicole Mericle is building an exemplary |
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| 36 | 37 | | record in an extremely demanding sport, and she is indeed deserving |
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| 37 | 38 | | of recognition for her outstanding achievements; now, therefore, be |
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| 38 | 39 | | it |
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| 39 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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| 40 | 41 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Nicole Mericle on her success in |
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| 41 | 42 | | obstacle course racing and extend to her sincere best wishes for the |
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| 42 | 43 | | future; and, be it further |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 44 | 45 | | prepared for Ms. Mericle as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 45 | 46 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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