Peoria, Ill. -- Two of the most decorated student-athletes that have come through the halls at Bradley University happen to be twin sisters. 

After spending the first 18 years of their lives together, the Busch twins of Caitlin and Kristen decided that four more years were in store. The co-Charles Osborn Award winners in 2016, captured many Missouri Valley Conference, NCAA and All-American awards and honors in their four years on the Hilltop. 

Caitlin Busch

Caitlin was a standout high school athlete at Freeburg Community High School, earning four cross country all-conference and all-state accolades. 

In her time at Bradley, Caitlin was a two-time MVC Cross Country Athlete of the Year, earning the award in 2014 and 2015. She holds 27 awards and honors from the MVC, with two indoor championships in the 3,000-meter and the 5,000-meter events. 

In addition to her MVC Awards, Caitlin was named as an All-Region honoree in the 2014 cross-country season. She was also an NCAA Preliminary Participant in 2015 and 2016 in Track. 

She was honored with the USTFCCCA All-Academic Award three different times, along with many MVC and Bradley academic awards, including earning the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence and both the MVC and Bradley AD Honor Roll memberships every year throughout her career. 

Kristen Busch

Kristen was also a highly decorated high school runner, winning four IHSA state titles, one in cross country and three in track. She was also named the Belleville News Democrat Cross Country Athlete of the Year each year in high school. 

While in Peoria, Kristen won 29 MVC awards and honors including multiple Indoor and Outdoor championships in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races. She was All-Missouri Valley Conference in cross country (2013, 2014, 2015) and track (2014, 2015, 2016). 

Kristen was an NCAA Championship Cross Country participant in 2015. In track, she was an NCAA Preliminary Participant in 2014, 2015 and 2016, while advancing to the NCAA Championships in 2014 and 2016. 

Just like her sister, Kristen was also honored with multiple TSTFCCCA All-Academic awards, including the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence and MVC and Bradley Honor Rolls every year. 

The Two Combined

In their time at Bradley, the two sisters combined for 56 MVC awards and honors, eight NCAA awards and honors and 12 All-American/All-Region awards and honors. 

Highlighting their tremendous accomplishments, Bradley Athletics chose Caitlin and Kristen as co-winners of the 2016 Charles Orsborn Award, the most-prestigious honor Bradley University bestows upon a graduating senior student-athlete and recognizes the ability of the winner to combine athletic and academic success with community service.

In recognition of the anniversary signing date of Title IX on June 23, 1972, women significant to the history of Bradley University Athletics representing each of our women's teams and department support areas will be spotlighted on the 23rd of each month. Check out our previous features below:

Press Release: Celebrating Title IX 50 Years
Lydia Moss-Bradley: Paving the Way
Virnette House-Browning and Patty Viverito: Leaving an Impact
Title IX Conversations: Carol Price-Torok
Title IX Conversations: Andrea Gorsk
Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX: Lindsay Stalzer