Bates College

Sophomore Hannah Zeltner finished third among 243 runners for the No. 19-ranked women’s cross country team at the USM Invitational on Saturday to gain Bobcat of the Week accolades for the week of Sept. 16-22.

Zeltner, a native of Bedford, N.H., led a group of three Bobcats who finished in the top 20 at the meet with a time of 18:19.1 at the 5-kilometer course. She crossed the finish line just nine seconds behind the race’s winner, Hannah Zydanowicz of Roger Williams.

For her efforts, Zeltner also earned the first NESCAC Women’s Cross Country Performer of the Week honor for the fall.

The Bedford High School graduate and the Bobcats next compete at the 50^th Annual Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minn., on Saturday hosted by the University of Minnesota. Some members of the team will participate in the Bowdoin Invitational on the same day.