Audrey Huth bested the field at the season-opening Crusader Open Friday in Valparaiso.Audrey Huth bested the field at the season-opening Crusader Open Friday in Valparaiso.

Audrey Huth Earns Co-Big Ten Runner of the Week Honors

Sept. 6, 2011

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern junior Audrey Huth (Shelby, Mich./Utica) is the co-recipient of the inaugural Big Ten Runner of the Week honor of the 2011 season, the conference announced on Tuesday. Huth took first place at the season-opening 5K Crusader Open, helping the Wildcats also claim first in the meet's team standings.

Huth is the first Northwestern runner to receive the conference's weekly laurel since Rachel Evjen in 2001. She shares the honor this week with Penn State senior Caitlin Lane.

Huth turned in a 5K time of 17:56 to start off the season, making her the only runner in a field of more than 80 competitors to run sub-18 minutes on the hot and humid day. Northwestern placed five runners in the top-10, allowing the 'Cats to hold off regional foe Notre Dame by eight points as well as Marquette, Western Michigan, Valparaiso and Trinity.

A 2010 NCAA qualifier, Huth is the Northwestern school record-holder in the 6,000-meters with her time of 20:35. She was a USTFCCA All-Midwest Region honoree a year ago and has been NU's top finisher in six of the last seven meets in which she has run.

Huth and the Wildcats return to action this weekend at the Huskie Open hosted by Northern Illinois. The meet is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday in DeKalb.

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