PEORIA, Ill. -- Sophomore Kristen Busch (Waterloo, Ill./Freeburg) has been named the Bradley Country Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week announced Wednesday after winning the 5,000 meters at the MVC Indoor Track and Field Championship and finishing second in the 3,000 meters.

Busch became the first Bradley indoor individual champion since Mary Ellen Hill won the 3,000 meters at the 2000 Valley indoor championship and posted a school-record time of 16:35.05 to claim the league title in the 5,000 meters Saturday.  She topped Hill's previous school mark in the 5,000 meters of 16:38.82 set in 1998.  Less than 24 hours later, Busch nearly added the 3,000 meter conference title to her resume, finishing less than two second behind Valley champ Alyvia Clark of Loyola in second place.  Busch improved her career-best time by four seconds and her time of 9:40.70 is third in school history.  A health science major, Busch owns a 3.39 cumulative grade point average. 
 
Each week, a Bradley student-athlete is selected as the Country Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week.  The individual chosen must be at least a sophomore in class standing and boast a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average, while displaying a level of athletic excellence.

Busch and the Bradley women's track and field team open the outdoor season March 22 at the Cougar Classic in Edwardsville, Ill.