Oct. 26, 2010

PARK RIDGE, Ill. -Illinois freshman Meghan Frigo picked up Big Ten Runner of the Week honors, announced the conference office Tuesday. Frigo paced the Illini and finished second overall at the Illini Open on Friday, knocking 52 seconds off her personal-best 5K time.

The Elmhurst, Ill., native led the Orange and Blue for the first time this season, leading the team to a tie for first place at the Illini Open. She finished the race in 18:11, three seconds ahead of fellow freshman Melissa Schmidt. Frigo was awarded the honor for the first time in her collegiate career.

The award marks the first time an Illini runner has won the award since Angela Bizzarri on Oct. 20, 2009, for her first-place performance at the 2009 Pre-National Invitational. Frigo was the first Illini freshman to be honored since Amber Stack in 2008.

The Illini head to Madison, Wis., on Sunday for the Big Ten Championships.