Bellarmine University junior Emily Frith has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Runner of the Week, it was released by the conference office on Tuesday.  The announcement comes following a league-wide vote of the conference's head coaches that was submitted shortly after the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches of America (USTFCCCA) announced Monday that Frith was its Women's Division II National Athlete of the Week.

Despite muggy and soggy conditions on a difficult course at the Greater Louisville Classic, Frith raced to Bellarmine's all-time best 5,000-meter performance in 17 minutes, 26.72 seconds.  Her efforts were good enough for a ninth-place finish overall, however she was the first Division II athlete to cross the line.

With the national honor, Firth becomes the first Bellarmine runner to earn the national distinction and is the second GLVC distance specialist recognized by the USTFCCCA this season.  University of Southern Indiana's Johnnie Guy, who was also named GLVC Runner of the Week on Tuesday, garnered National Athlete of the Week accolades on Sept. 16.

The Crab Orchard, Ky., native claims the second weekly conference honor of the season and third of her career.  She was also recognized by the league on Sept. 24, 2013 and Oct. 11, 2011. 

The Frith-led Knights are back in action this Saturday at the Fast Cats Classic in Owensboro, Ky.