Wednesday, September 30, 2009

MACON, Ga. – At Mercer’s RunFit Invitational on Saturday, reigning three-time A-Sun women’s Runner of the Week Mackenzie Howe won her fourth consecutive race to remain unbeaten in 2009. For her performance, she continued her season-long sweep of the Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week award, the conference office announced on Wednesday.

Howe won the RunFit Invitational on Saturday, finishing the 5K course in 17:56. The junior, from Watkinsville, Ga., led the Owls, who used three top-20 performances to their second team victory of the season, to a first-place finish overall in the meet that included A-Sun rival Mercer. Howe finished second in the same race last year. The award marks the eighth of her career.

After running four straight weekends, the Howe and the rest of the Owls take this coming weekend off. They return to competition on Saturday, October 10 at the Walt Disney World Cross Country Classic from Orlando, Fla.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.