Sept. 15, 2003

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University freshman Bessie Hatch continued an excellent start to her collegiate career by being named the Conference USA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week.

After opening her collegiate career with a second-place finish in the Tulane Invitational on Sept. 5, the Ojai, Calif., native captured the title at the 24th annual Southern Miss Invitational this past Friday. She defeated 112 other runners in the five-kilometer race, winning with a time of 18:41.39.

"Bessie has done a great job of coming in here and competing at a high level as a freshman," Tulane head coach Heather Van Norman said. "She has worked very hard and is very deserving of this honor."

Last week, Tulane men's cross country runner Philip Aaagaard won the same honor from the league.

Tulane is back in action on Saturday morning, running at the Ragin' Cajun Invitational in Lafayette, La. The meet begins at 8 a.m.