XU's Jacksons add to their collection of GCAC weekly awards

Xavier University's Kwame and Zahri Jackson
GCAC cross country individual champions in 2011

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Zahri and Kwame Jackson, both individual champions Saturday at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships, are the GCAC Runners of the Week for Oct. 17-23.

The Jacksons are freshmen siblings from Kingwood, Texas, a suburb of Houston, and graduates of Kingwood Park High School.

Zahri Jackson extended her XU women's record with her fifth GCAC weekly award of the season, tied Ebony Harding's XU career record and matched the GCAC women's season record set by Spring Hill's Kate Imwalle in 2009. Kwame Jackson won the men's award for the third time.

Zahri Jackson ran 5,000 meters in 19 minutes, 20.40 seconds to score her second consecutive individual victory and defeat defending champion Monicah Jepkemboi of SUNO by 11 seconds. The winning time is the second fastest by a female at the GCAC Championships in the past 11 seasons.

Less than an hour later, Kwame Jackson ran 8,000 meters in 28:12.09 for his first collegiate victory. He defeated teammates and former GCAC champions Ray Walston (2009) and Matt Pieri (2010).

Both the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush won their sixth consecutive GCAC team championships. Both squads earned automatic bids to the NAIA National Championships on Nov. 19 at Vancouver, Wash.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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