Xavier's Pieri, Fakler are GCAC Runners of the Week



Matt Pieri



Catherine Fakler



NEW ORLEANS — It's a familiar situation for Matt Pieri and a new one for Catherine Fakler. Both Xavier University of Louisiana cross country standouts are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runners of the Week for Sept. 10-16.

Pieri, a senior from New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, extended his GCAC career record with 11 weekly men's awards. He's won the award at least once in each of his four seasons. Fakler, a sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, won the women's award for the first time. Both were honored after their performances Saturday in the Azalea City Classic at Mobile, Ala.

Pieri produced the fastest time — 26 minutes, 39.71 seconds — by an XU male for 8,000 meters since 1998. Pieri beat his personal record by nearly 12 seconds and placed 18th out of 105 runners.

Fakler broke her XU women's record for 6,000 meters. Her 24:09.65 beat her old mark of 24:10.3. She placed 28th out of 115 runners.

Both XU teams will compete Saturday in the ASICS Embry-Riddle Classic at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., The 8,000-meter men's race will start at 7:20 a.m. EDT, followed by the women's 5K at 8. It will be Xavier's third meet of the season. Embry-Riddle's men are ranked 15th in the NAIA, and the women are ranked 20th. Embry-Riddle's best male is senior Evans Kirwa, the reigning NAIA National Men's Runner of the Week.

Twelve additional schools will compete Saturday: Ave Maria, Bethune-Cookman, Flagler, Florida College, Johnson & Wales (Fla.), Lynn, Rollins, Seton Hall, Southeastern (Fla.), Stetson, Tennessee State and Warner. Embry-Riddle also will field an alumni team.

 

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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