Illinois Springfield senior Madelyn Miller-Ross has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week, the league office announced Wednesday. She is the first student-athlete in program history to earn the honor during the outdoor season.

Miller-Ross turned in a record-breaking performance at the Bryan Clay Invitational over the weekend, finishing sixth overall in a loaded 5,000-meter field while placing third among NCAA Division II runners. She crossed the line in 16:19.76, improving her own school record by seven seconds. 

Her time currently ranks first in the GLVC and eighth in NCAA Division II this season, further establishing her as one of the top distance runners in the conference and nationally.

Competing against athletes from all levels, Miller-Ross delivered a defining moment for Prairie Stars women's outdoor track and field.

Miller-Ross is now in range to qualify for NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the second time in her career, while also positioning herself to qualify for five consecutive national championship appearances across her three sports.