ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Sophomore cross country runner Sarah McMahon (Colfax, Wis./Colfax) has been named a Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete according to an announcement by the league office. 

The fourth two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference cross country runner in program history, McMahon finished fifth at last week's Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championships in Normal, Ill., with a time of 17:47 to earn All-Valley honors for the fourth time in her career (twice in cross country & twice in track).

McMahon's fifth-place finish at the league championship was the best by a BU runner since 2009 and her time ranks as the fourth fastest 5K in school history at the Valley Championship behind three times posted by BU Hall of Fame runner Mary Ellen Hill at the 1997, 1998 and 1999 championships.

An english major with a 4.00 cumulative grade point average, McMahon is the first Bradley women's cross country runner to earn all-conference honors and MVC Scholar-Athlete recognition in the same season since Tam Hart in 2002.  McMahon is the sixth individual in program history to earn both distinctions in the same year, joining Hart, Hill (1997, 1998 & 1999), Debbie Knieja (1995), Teresa Shanahan (1996) and Angie Zimmerman (1999). 

To be eligible for Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete honors, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing, finish in the top 20 at the conference championship and own a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average. 

The Bradley men's and women's cross country teams will send a small contingent to the Huskie Open Friday in DeKalb, Ill., (5 p.m.) before the Braves take part in the NCAA Midwest Regional in Springfield, Mo., on Friday, Nov. 9.