Senior cross country runner Jessica Richardson (Columbus, Ind./North) was named the Horizon League Scholar Athlete of the Month for October, the league announced Thursday.

Richardson had a historic month, setting new personal bests in both the 5K and 6K and moving into second place in Crusader history at both distances. She finished sixth (out of 216 runners) at the Notre Dame Invitational – beating her previous personal 5K best by almost a minute – and finished seventh (out of over 200 runners) at the Bradley Pink Classic, beating her previous personal 6K best by 40 seconds. She won the Horizon League Runner of the Week after both performances.

The senior economics and mathematics major dominated in the classroom as well with her GPA of 3.848. She is a five-time Academic All-Horizon League selection, has been a member of HL Academic Honor Roll each semester that she has been eligible and has earned Presidential academic honors during her time at Valpo.

To be eligible for Scholar-Athlete of the Month recognition, student athletes must: participate in a League sport that is currently in season, be a starter or important reserve, have completed one year at the member school and passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours at that institution, and have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better, on a 4.00 scale through the last completed academic term.