DENVER - San Jose State's Alfredo Coronado and Boise State's Emma Bates have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference men and women's Cross Country Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week of Sept. 22 - 28.
Coronado, a senior from Santa Clarita, Calif., was San Jose State's top finisher at the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic, held in Memphis, Tenn., on Sept. 25. Coronado helped his team to a seventh-place finish as he placed sixth in a field of 260 individuals represented by 30 teams. Coronado's time of 24:31 over the 8K course marks his third top-10 finish in as many races during the 2010 season. This is the third time this season Coronado has received the athlete of the week honor.
Bates, a freshman from Elk River, Minn., was the top finisher for the Bronco women at the Roy Griak Invitational, held in St. Paul, Minn., on Sept. 25. Bates ran the 6K course in 22:10, placing 51st overall out of 300 runners represented by 29 teams. Bates' performance helped lead the Bronco women to a respectable 18th-place finish against a strong national field that included several nationally and regionally ranked teams. This is Bates' second athlete of the week honor for the 2010 season.
Other men's nominees: Jeff Howard, Boise State; Tyler Williams, New Mexico State
Other women's nominees: Madelyn Stoltze, New Mexico State