Bolivar, Mo. – This weeks' Grand Missouri Bank Athlete of the week belongs to women's cross country junior runner Natalie Gerdes who helped the team take 4^th place at the Southern Stampede on Saturday.
 
Natalie Gerdes bested 267 runners this past weekend, taking 3^rd place at the Southern Stampede. Her time of 17:20.45 in the 5k was right at her goal for the competition. She beat out a field that had numerous All-Americans among some of the top teams in the Midwest.
 
Gerdes won the GLVC Freshman of the Year two years ago and hopes to be among the top runners at the GLVC Championships this year.