Cross Country | 9/10/2014 10:20:00 AM
ABILENE - Sophomore Diana Garcia-Muñoz Tuesday was voted Southland Conference Female Cross Country Runner of the Week after turning in a winning 5K of 20:57 last Saturday at the West Texas College Open.
Garcia-Muñoz won the season-opening race over 36 competitors from four schools and was 17 seconds faster than runner-up Purity Murray of New Mexico (21:14). The Wildcats also finished first as a team with 19 points and just missed recording a perfect score as they claimed five of the top-six places.
Harry Wiggins of Southeastern Louisiana won the Southland's Cross Country Runner of the Week award on the men's side, while honorable mentions went to ACU's Daniel Block and Southeastern's Celia Zaeringer.
Block was the Wildcats' top finisher at the West Texas College Open, coming in fourth at 28:47 (8K).
Each school's sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.
The Wildcats return to action Friday for the annual Red Raider Open in Lubbock, Texas. Last year's meet took place at the Meadowbrook Golf Course with the 5K and 8K races beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Garcia-Muñoz is the Wildcats' highest returning finisher from the 2013 Red Raider Open as she completed the 5K course with a ninth-place time of 20:01.28. The women's team went on to place third with 102 points, while the men finished ninth of 13 schools with 248 points.
Block was the Wildcats' No. 2 runner in Lubbock last September with an 8K time of 28:46.78.
2014 ACU Southland Conference Athletes of the WeekSept. 1 - Parker McKenzie (Football)
Sept. 9 - Diana Garcia-Muñoz (Cross Country)
