Sept. 21, 2010

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

Christine Nelson's racing career at the University of Wyoming is just getting started, but the accolades already have begun.

Nelson, a freshman from Shawnee, Kan., on Tuesday was named the Mountain West Conference Athlete of the Week for women's cross country. Her performance in the Woody Greeno Invitational was a big reason for the honor. Nelson finished fourth overall in the 6K event Saturday in Lincoln, Neb., posting a personal-best time of 21:52.2.

Nelson's 6K mark ranks first in the conference this season and was her second top-four finish in as many collegiate races. Paced by Nelson's performance, the Cowgirls collected 58 points to earn a second-place finish in the university division.

She also ran well in her first race wearing the Brown and Gold, taking third place in the Wyoming Invitational. She blazed to a time of 14:51.2, which put her eighth on the Invitational top-25 list.

She is the first MWC honoree of the season for the Wyoming cross country program.

BYU junior Miles Batty was named Athlete of the Week for men's cross country.