SAN RAMON, Calif. – Natalie Rodriguez of the Cal State San Marcos women's cross country team has been named the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Runner of the Week for the week of Sept. 1-4, the conference announced Tuesday.

Rodriguez, a junior from Santa Clarita, Calif., is the first CSUSM student-athlete to earn the honor this year and the first-ever CSUSM cross country runner to receive the CCAA's weekly award.

On Friday, September 2, Rodriguez won the Cal Poly Pomona CCAA Preview women's 4,000-meter race with a time of 14:11.5, 14 seconds ahead of runner-up and teammate Raelyn Werley. The mark broke the CSUSM record of 14:43.0 set in 2001 by Lena Cox.

Rodriguez's individual victory helped guide the Cougars to 39 points and a second place result, nine points behind UC San Diego. The victory is the first collegiate cross country win for Rodriguez.

The women's and men's cross country teams return to action on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the UC Riverside Invitational.