BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – A pair of Eastern Kentucky University distance runners were honored by the Ohio Valley Conference on Tuesday as freshman Soufiane Bouchikhi was named the OVC Male Cross Country Runner of the Week and senior Kat Pagano was named the OVC Co-Female Cross Country Runner of the Week.

Bouchikhi remained undefeated as a collegiate cross country runner by winning the Western Kentucky Old Timers Classic on Saturday, edging WKU’s Shadrack Kipchirchir by less than a second on a sprint at the finish line. The native of Antwerp, Belgium defeated the field of 85 runners with an 8K time of 24:39.72 and led the EKU men, who are now ranked ninth in the Southeast Region, to a victory over host WKU, Marshall and four OVC rivals in Austin Peay, Morehead State, Tennessee Tech and UT Martin.

This is the first career OVC Cross Country Runner of the Week award for Bouchikhi, who arrived at EKU last winter and won three OVC track and field titles (indoor mile and 3,000 meters and outdoor 5,000 meters) and was named the OVC Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Freshman of the Year.

Pagano placed third out of 70 runners at the WKU Old Timers Classic, covering the 5K course in a time of 18:34.08. The Hollis, Me. native led the EKU women, who are currently ranked 15th in the Southeast Region, to wins over OVC opponents Austin Peay, Morehead State, Tennessee Tech and UT Martin.

This is also Pagano’s first OVC Cross Country Runner of the Week honor, despite the senior being a two-time first team All-OVC cross country performer. Pagano is the school record holder in the 10,000 meters (36:07.10) and has won three OVC track and field titles (indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters and outdoor 10,000 meters) in her decorated career.

Pagano shared this week's honor with Eastern Illinois' Olivia Klaus.

Ironically, the only other time Bouchikhi or Pagano has won an OVC weekly award, they were named OVC Track and Field Athletes of the week together on April 27.

The cross country Colonels return to action this weekend when they compete at the Memphis Twilight Classic on Saturday.