Phillip King and Kaitie Vanatta (Missouri) have been named Big 12 Cross Country Runners of the Week following first-place finishes this weekend. It is the first conference weekly award for both student-athletes.

MALE
Phillip King, Missouri, Jr., Columbia, Mo.
King placed first overall at the Missouri Cross Country Challenge with a time of 25:46.30, nearly 20 seconds faster than the next competitor. His pace of 3.14 minutes per kilometer helped the Tigers to a second-place team finish at the event.

FEMALE
Kaitie Vanatta, Missouri, Fr., Littleton, Colo.
Vanatta won her first collegiate race with a time of 17:54.30, clocking in more than eight seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Vanatta’s effort helped Mizzou claim consecutive Missouri Cross Country Challenge titles. 

2009 Big 12 Cross Country Runners of the Week
Men
    Sept. 8        Armando Del Valle, Kansas State, So.
    Sept. 15        Phillip King, Missouri, Jr.

Women
    Sept. 8        Martina Tresch, Kansas State, Fr.
    Sept. 15        Kaitie Vanatta, Missouri, Fr.