SMU sophomore Silje Fjortoft was voted Conference USA Cross Country Athlete of the Year by the conference’s head coaches on Friday.

Fjortoft notched four top-six finishes in five races last fall and was named conference Athlete of the Week twice.

She guided the Mustangs to a conference title and an at-large bid in the NCAA Championships at Terre Haute, Ind.

Fjortoft took top individual honors in the conference championships Nov. 1 in Memphis, Tenn., clocking a 16:46 in the 5-kilometer race. She finished second in her freshman season.

At nationals, Fjortoft finished in 20:51 in the 6-kilometer race, which was good for 40th place. SMU finished No. 20.

Fjortoft also competes on the track and field team, which begins competing in the spring.

She finished second at the 2008 NCAA Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and was an All-American selection.

She was runner-up in the 5,000 meter run at the conference championships.

-The Daily Campus