PEORIA, Ill. - Bradley redshirt-freshman cross country runner Nicole Benson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S.) has earned this week's Performance of the Week for the 2009-10 academic year.

In her first collegiate meet at Bradley, Benson finished 59 seconds ahead of the field of 79 runners with a time of 21:58 at the Western Illinois Early Bird Invitational Sept. 4. Her win also helped the women's cross country squad earn its first team victory since 2006.

To hear Bradley cross country head coach David Beauchem's take on Benson's first race, click on the video link above.