DENVER - San Jose State's Alfredo Coronado and Hawai'i's Ashley Aitken have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference men and women's Cross Country Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week of Sept. 15 - 21.
Coronado, a senior from Santa Clarita, Calif., was San Jose State's top finisher at the UC Riverside Invitational held Sept. 21. Coronado claimed eighth place, with a blistering time of 24:24.2, in a field of nearly 400 individuals represented by 25 different schools, including nationally ranked BYU (No.16), and regionally ranked UC Riverside and UC Santa Barbara. This is Coronado's second time claiming the athlete of the week award this season.
Aitken, a senior from Napier, New Zealand, claimed victory at the Big Wave Invitational after running the 4K race in a time of 14:57.66. Her performance helped the Rainbow Wahine capture the team title beating out BYU-Hawai'i, Hawai'i Pacific and Chaminade. Aitken, who was nominated last week for the same award, found redemption at the Big Wave as she was the runner-up at the invitational last season.
Other men's nominees: Barry Britt, Idaho; Kevin Taft, New Mexico State; Brian McKenna, Utah State
Other women's nominees: Hannah Kiser, Idaho; Jenifer McEntire, Nevada; Camille Schultz, New Mexico State; Jessie Chugg, Utah State