KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State junior cross country runner Mackenzie Howe is featured in the Oct. 12 issue of Sports Illustrated in the “Faces in the Crowd” section.

Howe is the first KSU athlete to be featured since men’s basketball player Terrence Hill got the nod in June of 2004. Women’s basketball player Denisha Ferguson was in the Dec. 22, 2003 issue and current softball coach Scott Whitlock was the first Kennesaw State “Face” when he appeared on June 11, 2001.

"This is a great honor for Mackenzie," said head coach Stan Sims. "She is following in the footsteps of some of our great cross country runners such as Jaydene Moralee, Marjo Venalainen, Patrina Hayes and Erin Sutton. What I love most about Mackenzie is that she knows that this honor is only the beginning."

The honor comes to the Watkinsville, Ga. native after she won the first four races of the season for the Owls including her most recent win at the RunFit Invitational in Macon, Ga., on Sept. 26 when her time of 17:56 was 1:32 faster than her next closest competitor.

Her dominance during the first month of the season led to her being named the Atlantic Sun Conference Women’s Runner of the Week for four consecutive weeks while also becoming the conference’s most recognized Runner of the Week with eight all-time awards.

“Faces in the Crowd” is a weekly section in Sports Illustrated dedicated to athletes for exceptional athletic performances in competitions that receive lower levels of mainstream media attention. Tiger Woods, Vince Carter, and Ben Roethlisberger are among the many famous athletes who were featured in “Faces” prior to reaching their superstar status.

Click here to visit Mackenzie in the Faces in the Crowd section of Sports Illustrated.  Howe and her teammates will be running this weekend when they travel to Orlando, Fla. to compete in the Walt Disney World Cross Country Classic.

Kennesaw State in Faces in the Crowd

Mackenzie Howe, Women's Cross Country, 10/12/09
Terrence Hill, Men's Baskeball, 6/7/04
Denisha Ferguson, Women's Basketball, 12/22/03
Scott Whitlock, Softball Head Coach, 6/11/01