DENVER ? Utah State’s Ben Kessen and Nevada’s Christa Avena have been named the Western Athletic Conference men and women’s Cross Country Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week of Aug. 25-31.
Kessen, a senior from La Cresenta, Calif. (Cresenta Valley HS), finished third, ahead of 27 other runners at the Utah State Open on Saturday, leading the Aggies to a second place team finish. Kessen ran the four-mile course in 19:47.3.
Avena, a senior from Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman HS), placed second overall at the 4K Nevada Twilight Cross Country Classic in Reno. Avena clocked a time of 16:05, leading five Nevada runners who finished in the top seven at the meet. She helped Nevada to a first place team finish at the event.
Other Men’s Nominees: None
Other Women’s Nominees: Utah State freshman Jessie Chugg finished third at the Utah State Open with a 5K time of 17:58.6.