BENNINGTON, Vt. — The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) announced its weekly awards for the period ending October 18, 2015 on Monday with Bennington College sophomore Annika Kristiansen (Keene, N.H.) being named the league's Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week.

Kristiansen climbed up to fourth on the all-time Southern Vermont 5k record list at Saturday's Western New England Golden Bear Invitational, taking 39 seconds off of her previous-best time for a 20:43 showing (6:40/mile). The Bennington harrier was second for the Mountaineers and 20th overall to help the team take eighth as a crew. The Monday honor is her first collegiate Conference accolade.

The sophomore rookie was joined in receiving Conference accolades by junior Justin Ferguson (Broadalbin, N.Y.) who was selected as the NECC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week, junior captain Shelby Whitman (Bennington, Vt.) who picked up the Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week honor, and Bennington College freshman Noah Froh (Milwaukee, Wis.) who was tabbed the NECC Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week.

Southern Vermont is back in action this Saturday, October 24 with a collective men's and women's 5k at Williams' Plansky Invitational, the last race before the NECC Championship takes place October 31.