-----Zach Koehler

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A pair of Northern Kentucky University cross country runners have been honored by the Great Lakes Valley Conference for their respective performances last week.

NKU women’s standout Rose Jepkirui was named GLVC Runner of the Week on Tuesday, and Norse men’s runner Zach Koehler also earned the weekly honor. Jepkirui is the first female runner in NKU history to receive the honor, and Koehler is the second men’s performer to earn the award.

Jepkirui, a junior from Mosoriot, Kenya, posted a fifth-place finish at the Xavier Invitational on Saturday with a time of 19:04 in the five-kilometer event.

Koehler, a sophomore and a graduate of Ryle High School, took ninth place in the men’s five-kilometer race with a time of 15:50.1.

NKU will host the third annual Norse Cross Country Classic Friday at A.J. Jolly in Alexandria, Ky.