XU's Jackson, Pieri chosen GCAC Runners of the Week

Zahri Jackson

Matt Pieri

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana cross country standouts Zahri Jackson and Matt Pieri are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runners of the Week for Oct. 3-9.

Jackson, a freshman from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School, set an XU women's record with her fourth GCAC award of the season. Pieri, a junior from New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, also won for the fourth time this season and extended to 10 his GCAC career record of weekly awards.

Jackson ran 6,000 meters in 25 minutes, 10.63 seconds Saturday to win the University of Dallas Invitational by nearly 55 seconds and lead the Gold Nuggets to the team championship, their first in the regular season since 2008. Pieri ran 8,000 meters in 28:00.55 to place third and lead the XU men to the team championship.

"That was a difficult course we ran on — the steepest hills we've faced since I've been at Xavier," seventh-year coach Joseph Moses said. "But in spite of the tough conditions, Zahri and Matt still ran well."

Both XU teams will compete next in the GCAC Championships at Clinton, Miss., on Oct. 22. Both the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush are five-time defending team champions, and Pieri is a defending individual champion.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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