YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's cross country team handed out its 2009 team awards, and true freshman Courtney Calka (Livonia, Mich.-Stevenson) took home MVP honors after a successful campaign in her first collegiate season.

 

Calka paced the Eagles in every race in 2009, including a sixth place finish at the 2009 Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championships with a time of 22:35.6 to lead EMU to a sixth place finish – the best finish for the Eagles since the 2000 season (third place). Calka also earned All-Region accolades after a 17th place finish at the Great Lakes Regional, Nov. 14.

 

Junior Beverly Elcock (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Northrop) earned Most Improved Runner honors after a stellar 2009 season which included a 22nd place finish at the MAC Championship (37 spots better than 2008 MAC Championship).

 

True freshmen Tiffany Kincaid (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) and Rachel Quaintance (White Lake, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) both won the Top Newcomer award, as both runners were consistently in the top five all season.

 

EMU Women's Cross Country Team Awards

Team MVP – Courtney Calka

Most Improved – Beverly Elcock

Top Newcomer(s) – Tiffany Kincaid and Rachel Quaintance