Illinois women's cross country runner Cassie Hunt has received the highest honor a freshman in the Big Ten conference could receive and has also become one step closer to her ultimate collegiate goal of becoming a top runner in the nation.

Hunt was named Big Ten Freshmen of the Year. She is the first freshman at Illinois to receive this award.

"I had no idea that I was the first one (at Illinois to get the award), and it makes it more special," Hunt said.

Typically the first freshman to finish in the Big Ten Championship meet wins the award. However, another determining factor in the decision is the Big Ten coaches' votes. The coaches voted directly after the meet on Sunday about who they felt the Big Ten Freshman of the Year should be, and they chose Hunt.

"I'm really pleased," Illinois head coach Karen Harvey said. "This goes to show that we're here to put Illinois on the map. This is no longer going to be a mediocre program and Cassie is leading the way."

Harvey said that going into the season, she thought Hunt would be the best freshmen in the Big Ten and that she would break 21 minutes and 30 seconds in a 6,000 meter race sometime this season. That sometime is now.

Hunt's season goal is right before her eyes. Hunt is just six seconds away from that goal: to run a 6,000 meter race in 21:30.

Before this season, Hunt had never run a 6,000 meter race. After running in the Spartan Invitational on Sept. 19, she had a good idea of what she wanted her finishing time to be. Hunt came six seconds away from that goal last weekend at the Big Ten Championship meet. She finished the 6,000 meter course in 21:36.9.

Hunt didn't prepare for this meet any differently than the rest of the races this season. She says she just "goes with the flow." She runs the 15-minute warm-up, and stretches before each race.

"I felt pretty good during the Big Ten Championship race," Hunt said. "When I feel bad during a race, I try to talk myself out of it. I tell myself, 'You feel pretty good.' It's also encouraging when (Coach) Harv's on the course yelling at us with words of encouragement."

Hunt placed first for her team and 12th overall at the Big Ten Championship meet. The meet was the fourth consecutive time this season Hunt has led her team during a race and finished first for the Illini.

"My team is very encouraging," Hunt said. "During a race, I always want to finish well to help our team. They are my primary motivation during a race."

Hunt is a leader in more ways than one. She leads on and off the course.

"She's a leader in workouts — she takes people out with her," junior Jaime Turilli said. "She brings a very positive attitude to the team."

Harvey began recruiting Hunt after she looked at Junior Championship results on the Internet. Hunt was the 2002 Indiana State champion in the mile.

"I called her coach," Harvey said. "I called her. I made a visit to her home in Roachdale and I watched her at practice."

One reason Hunt chose to come to Illinois was because Harvey visited her home in Indiana.

"I got along with Harv really well," Hunt said. "I got calls from other schools, but no other coach visited me at home except for Harv. She visited me and I liked her personality and we got along really well. After my official visit I liked the school a lot, so I chose Illinois."

Hunt's running career began in eighth grade when she ran track. She didn't start running cross country until her sophomore year at North Putnam High School in Roachdale, Ind.

"I always played volleyball. My freshman year of high school, I wasn't having a good time," Hunt said. "The cross country coach talked to me about running cross country and told me that I would be pretty good."

The same coach that convinced her to run cross country is the one person who has most influenced her running career. Kristy Lippencott was not only her high school cross country coach, but also her teacher and her biathlon coach.

"She's always there for me," Hunt said. "She always got me involved and is always encouraging me. We still talk often via email. My parents called her after the Big Ten race to tell her how I did."

According to Hunt, this season has pretty much been everything she wanted it to be.

Hunt's goal for her remaining three years at Illinois is to run as fast as she can with the amount of training Harvey has her do.

"I guess my goal is like everyone else's, to be top in the nation — to rank nationally," Hunt said.

Harvey has high hopes for Hunt as well.

"I think she'll be an All-American, but I'm not sure about the event yet," Harvey said. "I think she may become Illinois' best in the steeplechase or the 5,000 meter run."