Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week - No. 7

Helker wins second national award by defeating the competition by 1:20

October 24, 2012 

By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Hannah Helker of Oklahoma Baptist has been named the NAIA National Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday. Helker was selected based on her performance from Oct. 15 - 21 and was chosen out of a pool of conference/independent runner of the week selections.

Helker, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., captures her second national weekly award of the season. At the NAIA Mid-States Classic hosted by Southwestern (Kan.) on Oct. 20, she defeated her next closest competitor by 1:20 to take first place overall. She ran the 5K course in 17:03. Her win was the fourth-straight No. 1 finish. Helker helped lead the Bison to a first-place team finish out of 15 programs.

For complete results of the NAIA Mid-States Classic, click here.

This is the final 2012 announcement of the NAIA National Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week.

Nominees: Julie Oosterhouse, Cornerstone (Mich.); Annie Hills, Loyola (La.); Jessica Davis, Texas Wesleyan; Lauren Jaqua, Baker (Kan.); Ellie Staker, Embry-Riddle (Fla.); Kortney Ellingboe, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Emily Dolan, Spring Hill (Ala.); Brielle Lund, Tabor (Kan.); Benodine Kosom, Wiley (Texas); Darcy Mascotti, Cumberlands (Ky.); Talisa Budder, Haskell (Kan.); Rachel Renken , Friends (Kan.); Aleona Reyes, Jamestown (N.D.); Meagan Governor, Northwest (Wash.); Zahri Jackson, Xavier (La.); Cherie Gaines, Indiana Tech; Kelsee VanderBaan, Davenport (Mich.); Alexandra Rudd, Southern Oregon; Julia Montgomery, Columbia (Mo.); Kelsey Carbajo, Grand View (Iowa); Bianca Kubicki, Madonna (Mich.); Sharon Ronoh, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Karlee Coffey, Eastern Oregon; Valinn McReynolds, William Penn (Iowa); Liz Mosbach, Mount Mercy (Iowa); Melissa Carder, South Carolina Beaufort; Hannah Lieberman, SCAD Savannah (Ga.); Lindsey McDonald, Park (Mo.); Tina Eden, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Abby Baker, William Woods (Mo.); No Nomination, St. Thomas (Fla.); Kasey Hosier, Shawnee State (Ohio); Kristen Garwood, Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.); Kristen Garwood, Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.); Monika Kalicinska, St. Gregory's (Okla.); Angel Gaesser, Indiana Wesleyan; Rachael Bruce, Southeastern (Fla.); Brittany Aikens, Brenau (Ga.); Trisha Nelson, Bethel (Ind.); Anna Bos, Trinity Christian (Ill.); Rachel Gonzalez, Missouri Valley; Jessica Childers, Lee (Tenn.); Dana Miller, Waldorf (Iowa); Hilary Halford, St. Francis (Ill.); Brittany Young, Dickinson State (N.D.); Lauren Nygren, Webber International (Fla.); Sarah LeCroy, Mobile (Ala.); Ashley Mast, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio); Meagan Wright, Milligan (Tenn.); Katrina Nolan, Oklahoma City; Brittany Suleski, Cardinal Stritch (Wis.); Emily Weber, Saint Mary (Neb.); Lauren Kelly, Montreat (N.C.); Sarah Kortze, Concordia (Neb.); Hannah Kellerman, The Master's (Calif.); Robbiccaa Williams, Tennessee Wesleyan.

2012 NAIA Women's Cross Country Runners of the Week
Week 1 (Sept. 12): Hannah Helker, Oklahoma Baptist
Week 2 (Sept. 19): Sarah Kortze, Concordia (Neb.)
Week 3 (Sept. 25): Hillary Holt, College of Idaho
Week 4 (Oct. 3): Karlee Coffey, Eastern Oregon
Week 5 (Oct. 10): Bianca Kubicki, Madonna (Mich.)
Week 6 (Oct. 17): Sharon Ronoh, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Week 7 (Oct. 24): Hannah Helker, Oklahoma Baptist