KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sophia Noriega, a junior at Embry-Riddle, was named this week's NAIA Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week for her efforts through Sunday, October 5.

Noriega competed in the Mustang Invitational and won with a time of 20:58.1, which saw 189 runners from all divisions, including some of the best NAIA runners on the West Coast. Her time set a new 6k course record by eight seconds and is also a personal best. Noriega's mark is also the third-fastest time in the NAIA this fall over a 6k course.

The Eagles will compete next on Saturday, October 17 at the Highlander Invitational in Riverside, Calif.

About the NAIAThe National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small college athletics programs dedicated to character-driven, education-based athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has balanced high-level competition with holistic student-athlete development through its commitment to The Right Way to Play®. Each year more than 87,000 NAIA student-athletes compete in college athletics, earn over $1.3 billion in financial aid, and pursue opportunities to participate in 30 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA | #TheRightWayToPlay

Release courtesy of Katie Green at the NAIA.