Former John Hardin Star Katie Lever Named Conference USA Runner of the Week

LADY TOPPERS’ LEVER CAPTURES C-USA FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU women’s cross country standout Katie Lever has been named the Conference USA Female Athlete of the Week after a strong showing at the Pre National Invitational, the league announced Tuesday afternoon. 

Lever, a junior, turned in the second-best 6K time of her career this past Saturday at the Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Ind. She placed ninth in the White Division with a time of 21:49.60 to notch her fifth-career Top 10. It also marked the fifth-consecutive meet dating back to the 2013 NCAA Southeast Regional that she led the Lady Toppers in a race. 

Lever has been the top runner for WKU in every meet this season and a major reason as to why the Lady Toppers have been ranked in the United States Track and Field and Coaches Association Southeast Regional Poll the past three weeks. WKU held down the No. 13 spot the past two weeks and dropped to No. 14 after Saturday’s race. 

The Athlete of the Week honor is the first for Lever and WKU women’s cross country this season. Hilltopper senior David Mokone received the accolade from the league on Sept. 16. 

Lever and the Lady Toppers won’t compete this week but will continue work toward the upcoming Conference USA Cross Country Championships, hosted by North Texas in Denton on Nov. 1. For more information on WKU Cross Country, follow the program on Twitter at @WKUTrackField.