STATE COLLEGE, PA., OCT. 24, 2003- Penn State sophomore Dan Mazzocco (Pittsburgh, Pa.) continued his return to cross country this week after being named the Big Ten Cross Country Co-Athlete of the Week by the conference. Mazzocco led 218 competitors at the Penn State National on Oct. 18 with a career-best time on the home course of 25:29.69.

Mazzocco shared the honor with Michigan's Nick Willis, who recorded the top time by a Big Ten competitor at the Pre-Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa over the weekend.

This is the second Big Ten Cross Country Athlete of the Week honor for Mazzocco this season. The first came after he won the Penn State Spiked Shoe and led the Nittany Lions to a team victory on Sept. 13.

Penn State is back in action on Nov. 2 for the Big Ten Championships hosted by Michigan State University.