Euan Makepeace has been named the BIG EAST Athlete of the Week in men's cross country. The award was announced by the BIG EAST Conference Tuesday (Sept. 19). Makepeace is the first Butler runner to be recognized during the 2017 campaign.

Makepeace won the Commodore Classic on Saturday with a time of 24:39.8 on the 8k Percy Warner Park course. Makepeace's performance elevated Butler to a second-place finish in the 15-team field at the event hosted by Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. The Commodore Classic was Makepeace's first action of the 2017 season.

Makepeace separated himself from Middle Tennessee State's Jacob Choge (24:44.8) and Kigen Chemadi (24:50.2). Choge is a three-time All-American and just a sophomore this season. Makepeace followed up a fifth-place finish in last year's event.

For his efforts, Makepeace was also named National Runner of the Week by The Stride Report.

The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, Sept. 29, traveling to South Bend, Ind., for the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational.