Shadle Tabbed Big 12 Runner of the Week

Lincoln -- Nebraska junior Anne Shadle was named the female Big 12 Cross Country Runner of the Week on Tuesday, for her first-place finish in last weekend's Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational.

In her first race of the 2003 season, the Sioux City, Neb. native finished the 6,000-meter course in a career-best 21:33, just 11 seconds shy of the course record and more than a minute faster than her 13th-place finish at last year's meet. The victory was the first of Shadle's career and helped the Huskers claim their second consecutive team title this season.

Head Coach Jay Dirksen was pleased to see Shadle get the honor.

"It's well deserved," Dirksen said. "She's shown tremendous improvement from last year and ran a great race last weekend."

The award marks the first time an NU runner has been honored as Big 12 Runner of the Week since senior Ann Gaffigan won the award after the fourth race of the 2002 season.