ST. LOUIS - For the second-straight week, a Bradley Brave has been named the Missouri Valley Conference women's cross country athlete of the week. Fifth-year senior Katie Nowak (Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake H.S.) earned this week's award for her outstanding performance at the 24th annual Bradley Open at Detweiller Park Sept. 11. Last week, Bradley redshirt-freshman Nicole Benson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S.) received the honor.

Nowak earned her first career meet victory and set a 5K personal best time of 18:03; 13 seconds faster than her previous 5K best at the 2007 MVC Championship. She paced the field of 145 competitors and finished in front of Division I runners from Indiana State, DePaul and the University of Illinois. Nowak's victory was the first Bradley Open individual win for the Braves since Mary Ellen Hill finished first in 1998.

Indiana State's Craig Padgett took home this week's men's award. Padgett finished second at the Bradley Open and posted the conference's fastest 8K time this season (24:35).

The Braves will return to the course Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Missouri State Cross Country Classic at 10 a.m.