RICHMOND, VA -- University of Delaware sophomore Julia Somers (at right), who captured the Delaware Invitational cross country individual title Saturday, has been named the Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Runner of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.

Somers, a sophomore engineering major from Haverford, PA (Haverford High School), becomes the third Blue Hen runner to earn the honor this season. UD men’s standouts P.J. Meany (Sept. 11) and Kyle Schmid (Sept. 18) were honored earlier this season. The weekly CAA Men’s Runner of the Week was James Madison senior C.W. Moran who 18th overall at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival this past weekend.

Both the Delaware men’s and women’s teams captured the team titles at the Delaware Invitational #2 Saturday at White Clay Creek State Park with the women winning their third title of the season as they gained 62 points to outdistance the 16-team field.

Somers captured her first career individual title as she covered the five kilometer course in 18:26.97, over six seconds faster than runner-up Abby Pullen of Hofstra. Somers has now led the Blue Hens in each of the last three meets, including placing 116th at the Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota Sept. 23 and 56th at the Paul Short Invitational Sept. 29. She also placed fourth at the Hofstra Invitational in September.

She was Delaware’s second finisher at the CAA Championships a year ago, placing 14th overall.

Both Delaware teams will take next week off in preparation for the Colonial Athletic Association Championships which the Hens will host Oct. 27 at White Clay Creek State Park.