Pacesetters Fakler, Jackson collect more GCAC awards

Catherine Fakler

Kwame Jackson

NEW ORLEANS — This is a familiar route for Catherine Fakler and Kwame Jackson. The Xavier University of Louisiana cross country standouts are the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runners of the Week for the fourth time in as many weeks this season.
     
Fakler, from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, ran 5,000 meters in a school-record 18 minutes, 41.03 seconds Saturday at the Ram Ramble Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas, to score her first collegiate victory in cross country and the second in nine years by an XU female in a regular-season meet.

Jackson, a junior from Kingwood, Texas, and a graduate of Kingwood Park High School, ran 8,000 meters at the Ram Ramble in 27:40.42 and finished sixth. Jackson's time is the 15th-fastest by a Gold Rush runner since the start of the 2002 season.
    
The GCAC awards were determined on performances from Sept. 16-22. This is the eighth time for Jackson and the sixth time for Fakler to win a GCAC weekly award during their careers.
    
No one from Xavier will win awards for this week because the Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush are not competing. They'll resume their schedule Oct. 4 in the Mississippi College/Watson Ford Invitational at Clinton, Miss.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA