By Vantage Staff
Newman University cross country runner Katie Hughes continued an already attention-grabbing season this week by breaking a Newman record.
Hughes, who is a graduate transfer student in her first year running at Newman, completed the 6K course at the Augustana Invitational meet in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Friday in 20:16, taking the individual title. After, she was named the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association's NCAA Division II Women’s National Athlete of the Week.
It was the first time that a Newman cross country athlete had ever earned National Athlete of the Week honors from the group.
Her time in the 6K also broke Newman’s school record. She finished 21.1 seconds ahead of the next finisher and led runners from 20 teams throughout the race. The time was a personal best for Hughes, who hails from Helston, Cornwall, UK.
The Jets finished 17th at the meet.
Earlier this month, Hughes recorded the highest individual finish by a Newman women’s cross country runner since 2023 at the JK Gold Classic. She was the highest-placing NCAA Division II runner in that race, which was her first for Newman.
She then was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week.
Hughes came to Newman from Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado, where she was a member of the 2024 NCAA Division II national championship team and earned All-Region honors in cross county.
Before Alamosa State, she attended Saint Mary’s University in England.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Newman athletics
