MACON, Ga. - Northern Kentucky University's J.J. Webber was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Runner of the Week for men's cross country, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Webber, a sophomore from Liberty Township, Ohio, earns NKU's first conference runner of the week award since Joey Mueller captured Great Lakes Valley Conference weekly honors in 2010. Webber is the fifth runner all-time to earn conference weekly honors.
Webber picked up right where he left off from his all-conference performance last year, turning in a time of 25:26.9 at the Covered Bridge Open 8K race this past weekend to lead the Norse and claim sixth place in the individual event. His average mile pace of 5:05 helped him maintain the blistering pace set by the nationally ranked squads from Florida State and North Carolina.
Head coach Steve Kruse was more than pleased with Webber's results this week, noting, "with J.J. missing track and field this past spring, he felt it was very important to run well out of the gate this cross country season and that's exactly what he did. Given that this was our first meet of the season and that he hasn't run in a long, long time shows me that we've just scratched the surface of his potential.
"I am very proud of his work ethic both in training and in his academics and I look forward to seeing what he can do this season and beyond."
Last year, Webber set NKU freshman records at every cross country distance save the 10 kilometer. He was named an All-GLVC performer after a ninth-place result in last year's conference meet.
The Norse return to action on Friday evening, joining Cincinnati and Xavier to host the 31st annual Queen City Invitational at Mt. Airy Forest in Cincinnati, Ohio. The men run at 5 p.m. with the women to follow.