AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College women's cross country star Mackenzie Donahue (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) has been named the East Coast Conference Runner of the Week for competitions held September 21-27.

Donahue came in second place out of 205 competitors at last Saturday's (September 26) Harry F. Anderson Invitational hosted by Roberts Wesleyan College, breaking her own school record for a 5K race in the process.  Her time of 18:19.0 bettered the previous record of 18:29.2 which she set at the same event two years ago (September 28, 2013) during her freshman season.  It also marked the third time she's set a new benchmark at this distance, first doing so at the Highlander Invitational on September 21, 2013 when she completed the course in 18:37.03.

The runner-up finish was Donahue's second of the season and the fourth of her career.  Since arriving on campus in the fall of 2013, Donahue was racked up 12 top-10 finishes in 15 career races.

Donahue's performance on Saturday helped Daemen to a third-place finish in the meet's team standings, out of 20 competing teams.

This marks the first time in Donahue's career that she's been named the ECC Runner of the Week.  She had previously earned ECC Rookie of the Week honors four times during the 2013 season.  She also becomes the second Daemen runner to earn the accolade this season after teammate Hannah Rice (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) picked up the honor for races held August 31 through September 7.

Donahue, Rice and the rest of the Daemen women's cross country team are back in action this Saturday, October 3 at the Mike Woods Invitational hosted by SUNY Geneseo in picturesque Letchworth State Park.  For continuing coverage on the Daemen women's cross country team throughout the season, follow @DaemenAthletics and @DaemenXC on Twitter.