Three from XU are Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes

Brent Kitto

NEW ORLEANS — The NAIA announced Monday that Xavier University of Louisiana's Catherine Fakler, Hannah Finnegan and Brent Kitto have been named 2014 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes in cross country.

The XU runners are among 550 — 210 men and 340 women — to receive that honor this season. It's the second consecutive year that Fakler has received it, and it's the first time for Finnegan and Kitto.

Student-athletes are nominated by their institution, must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved junior academic status to qualify for Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.


Hannah Finnegan

Catherine Fakler

Fakler, a senior from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, is an English major and a three-time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference runner. In 2013 she was the GCAC individual champion and the women's Louisiana Runner of the Year. She holds school records for 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000 meters and for two miles.

Finnegan, a junior from Pekin, Ill., and a graduate of Tremont High School, is a pharmacy major who has earned All-GCAC three times. She was the GCAC runner-up this season.

Kitto, a junior from Chalmette, La., and a graduate of Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, is a pharmacy major and a two-time All-GCAC runner. Kitto had four top-5 finishes this season, including fifth at the GCAC meet.

It's the fourth consecutive year that the XU men have produced a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets concluded their cross country seasons Saturday at the NAIA National Championships in Lawrence, Kan. They will compete in outdoor track and field beginning in early March.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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