MARQUETTE – A pair of cross country runners were honored as the Superiorland Kiwanis Athletes of the Month for September at Marquette Senior High School.

Honored were senior Rebecca McNamee and junior Garrett Rudden.

McNamee won her first cross country race at the Marquette County Meet this fall as she has earned all-state, all-Upper Peninsula, all-conference and academic all-state honors.

She was also named the Redettes’ Most Improved Runner in 2014 and 2015.

McNamee also takes part in track, helping MSHS win a U.P. championship, and is involved in Quiz Bowl, is editor of the school newspaper and participates in Peer-to-Peer program.

She carries a 4.15 grade-point average, has repeatedly been on the honor roll and is a member of the National Honor Society and won the Poetry Out Loud competition in the last school year.

She volunteers for several organizations including Kids for Change and Vacation Bible School and has made a mission trip to Tennessee.

McNamee plans to attend Michigan State University to pursue a degree in social work or psychology.

Rudden, a first-year cross country runner, has already chalked up a runner-up finish at one meet this fall.

He took part in track for the first time this spring, helping MSHS win the U.P. title. He finished third in the 400-meter dash was a member of the winning 1,600 relay at the U.P. Finals.

Rudden has played two years of football, when he was captain of his freshman and JV teams, and two years of basketball.

He has raised his GPA and now holds a 3.5 GPA for the current quarter.

He officiates youth football and helped with the Marquette Marathon and Rotary Club pancake breakfast.

He hopes to attend MSU after he graduates and run cross country and track and field there.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.