INDIANAPOLIS - Cal Poly’s Laura Hollander (Huntington Beach, Calif.) has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the Big West Conference Cross Country Championships in a course record time of 19:12.6.

Hollander led the 6 km race wire-to-wire to break the previous course record by 45 seconds. The true freshman became only the second athlete to break 20 minutes since the Big West Championships moved to a 6 km distance in 2003.

Hollander led her team to win the overall conference title with 43 points.

“It was nice to get the individual win and also to have the team win meant a great deal to me,” Hollander said. “It was a fun day to be a Mustang. I feel even more proud to win because it was the first ever individual win for a Cal Poly athlete.”

Hollander’s conference win is the latest in her undefeated college season that includes wins at the Pac 12 Preview and Wisconsin Adidas Invitational.

“This whole season for me I've simply tried to enjoy each race and run to the best of my ability each time,” Hollander said. “I love running and racing so its been really fun.”

Now in its 11th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2012 Winners: January 5, Landon Peacock; January 11, Kirubel Erassa; January 18, Shalane Flanagan; January 26, John Nunn; February 1, Gunnar Nixon; February 8, Jenn Suhr; February 14, Jillian-Camarena Williams; February 22, Brycen Spratling; February 28, Chaunte Lowe; March 7, Eric Broadbent; March 14, Ashton Eaton; March 21, Jeanne Daprano; March 27, Wallace Spearmon; April 3, Trevor Barron; April 9, Kevin Castille; April 18, Brittney Reese; April 25, Amy Sproston; May 2, Leo Manzano; May 9, Stephanie Brown-Trafton; May 16, Allyson Felix; May 23, Nick Hartle; May 30, Kimberlyn Duncan; June 6, Jessica Cosby and Meghan Vogel; June 13, Jesse Williams; June 20, Shelby Ashe; June 27, Ashton Eaton; July 4, Allyson Felix; July 12, Christian Cantwell; July 18, Gunnar Nixon; July 25 Evan Jager; August 1, Denzel Harper; August 15, Allyson Felix; August 23, Reese Hoffa; August 29, Carmelita Jeter; September 5, Matt Tegenkamp; September 12, Aries Merritt; September 19, Ben True; September 26, Willie Banks; October 3, Jan Holmquist; October 10, Dathan Ritzenhein; October 17, Alana Hadley; October 22, Sarah Baxter; October 31, Laura Hollander