DENVER SMUs Mindi Pukstas and Fresno States Kara June have been named the Western Athletic Conference mens and womens cross country Athletes of the Week, respectively.
Pukstas, a junior from Kaunas, Lithuania, was the top finisher for the Mustangs, taking eighth at the Notre Dame Invitational. His time of 24:38 is 22 seconds better than his first-place finish in late September at the SMU Invitational.
June, a junior from Santa Maria, Calif., won the 6k San Francisco State Invitational in a time of 21:46. She helped the Bulldogs to a first-place finish in the nine-team event. It is the fourth-straight week she has led the Bulldogs and is also her best 6k time this season.
Additional mens nominees included; Fernando Cabada, Fresno State; Matt Heard, San Jose State.
Additional womens nominees included: Victoria Chang, Hawaii; Judy DeLong, San Jose State.