DENVER – Seattle U’s Sophie Curatilo and New Mexico State’s Daniel Rubio have been named the Western Athletic Conference men’s and women’s Cross Country Athletes of the Week, respectively, for Sept. 30 – Oct. 6.
Curatilo, a senior from Honolulu, Hawaii (Moanalua HS), won the women’s three-mile race at the Viking Cross Country Classic with a time of 16:48.40, almost seven full seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. It is the first collegiate cross country event she has won outright, and her victory helped the Redhawks win the team title at Portland State’s meet. It was also the fastest time she has ever posted in a three-mile cross country event, breaking her previous best mark by over 30 seconds.
Rubio, a senior from Port Townsend, Wash. (Port Townsend HS), took second place overall at the Rim Rock Farm Classic this weekend in Lawrence, Kans. with a time of 24:37.80. He has finished first for five consecutive meets that the Aggies have competed in: Texas Tech Triangular, Lobo Invite, the Kachina Classic, Lori Fitzgerald meet and the Rim Rock Farm Classic. Rubio has achieved a personal best early in the season and has consistently been a top runner for New Mexico State during each meet.
Other Women’s Nominees: New Mexico State… Senior Diana Hawk finished first for the Aggies for the fifth meet this season, placing sixth overall with a time of 23:13.70 in the women’s 6k race this weekend at the Rim Rock Farm Classic… Grand Canyon… Junior Kelsi Klotter finished 22nd in the women’s 6k race with a time of 23:14.4 at the Rim Rock Farm Classic.
Other Men’s Nominees: Grand Canyon… Senior Tyler Vandyke finished seventh in the Rim Rock Farm Classic 8k race with a time of 25:16.0… Texas-Pan American… Junior Jose Juan Wells finished in 134th place out of 430 runners at the 26th Annual Chile Pepper Festival this weekend posting a time of 26:13.4 in the men’s 8k race… Seattle U… Junior Gus Arroyo earned his second top-five finish of the season, placing fourth at the Viking Cross Country Classic with a time of 25:07.98 in the men’s 8k race.