BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Freshman Lena Parker of the Auburn University at Montgomery women's cross country team was named the Gulf South Conference (GSC) Freshman of the Week, as announced by the conference office Wednesday morning.  

Parker placed 17th in the women's 5K with a personal-best time of 18:52.80, lowering her own AUM freshman 5K record by more than 15 seconds. Her previous best of 19:08.40 came earlier this season at the Montevallo Falcon Classic. 

Parker's performance played a key role in the Warhawks' third-place finish at the Kennemer Classic, helping AUM score 97 points in a 12-team field featuring 106 individual runners.  

AUM finished as the top non-Division I team, placing behind only Jacksonville State and West Florida while finishing ahead of Division I programs Austin Peay and host North Alabama. 

The Wilsonville, Alabama, native was the third freshman to cross the finish line and the second Warhawk across the line, marking the third time this season she has finished as AUM's second runner. 

The freshman Parker has also helped the Warhawks capture the team title at the Montevallo Falcon Classic, where AUM scored 27 points in a 10-team field of 97 individual runners to secure its second team victory since moving to the NCAA Division II level. Parker finished sixth overall in the individual standings.  

This marks the first weekly conference honor of Parker's collegiate career. 

Up Next 
Parker and the cross country program returns to action Saturday, Oct. 24, at the UAH Chargers XC Invite at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Alabama, for their final meet of the regular season. 

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