Sept. 18, 2002

University of Missouri women's cross country runner Valerie Lauver was named female Big 12 Cross Country Runner of the Week. Lauver, a freshman from Allen, Texas, finished first in her first collegiate race at the Missouri Cross Country Challenge. She ran a 17:18 over the 5,000 meter course and outran fellow teammate Amanda Bales by four seconds. The Tiger women dominated the seven-team field finishing first through fifth and took nine of the top ten spots. Mizzou scored 15 points to runner-up Iowa's 73. Lauver and the Tigers next race in New York at the Iona Invitational.