FARMINGTON, Minn. - First-year cross country athlete Abigail Burns was named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week after racing against NCAA D-I competition in Oregon over the weekend.

Burns placed eighth overall at the George Oja Invitational in Independence, Oregon, on Oct. with a 6K time of 21:29.5. She was topped by only two NCAA D-III runners in the meet, finishing mostly behind runners in higher divisions. Her 6K time is the fastest in the MIAC this season and helped the Knights place second overall as a team, three points behind champion Eastern Washington of NCAA Division I. 

The women's cross country team is set to race next on Saturday, Oct. 31 in the MIAC Championships at the St. Olaf Cross Country Course. The starting gun for the women's race is set for 11:00 a.m.