USATF - Minnesota Honors Athletes

The Minnesota Association of USA Track & Field announced its Athletes of the Month for November and December yesterday: Maria Hauger and Aaron Bartnik earned the organization's November honors, while Hassan Mead and Marie Borner were the December honorees.

Hauger, a freshman at Shakopee High School, was recognized for her win in the Class AA girls’ race at the Minnesota State High School League State Cross Country Meet on November 7 in Northfield. Hauger ran the 4-kilometer course in 14:41 to earn a one-second victory over Elk River’s Emma Bates.

Bartnik, a junior at Eden Prairie High School, was honored for his victory in the boys’ Class AA race at the MSHSL State Meet. Bartnik clocked 15:56 in the 5K race for a two-second win over Woodbury’s Marty Joyce, which led Eden Prairie to its first-ever boys' state cross country title.

Mead, a junior on the University of Minnesota men’s cross country team, was honored for finishing 16th at last month’s NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana. Mead, the Big Ten champion earlier in the season, earned All-American honors for the third time in his career and led the Gophers to a 24th-place team finish.

Borner, a senior at Bethel University, was recognized for her runner-up finish at the NCAA Division III Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. Borner, who won the Division III title in 2008, clocked 21:46 over the 6K course. Wendy Pavlus of St. Lawrence University (NY) won the race in 21:28.

USA Track & Field Minnesota selects Athletes of the Month to honor excellence in track and field and its related sports in Minnesota.