Speaks, Hackett Named Cross Country Athletes of the Week
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Sam Houston State junior Chris Speaks was named Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week while Abilene Christian junior Alexandria Hackett was named Women’s Cross Country Athletes of the week presented by UniversalCoin.com, the league announced Tuesday.
Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week – Chris Speaks, Sam Houston State
Speaks placed 10th overall at the Crimson Classic with a time of 24:46.68. The Coldsprings, Texas (Coldsprings-Oakhurst HS), native led the Bearkats to a 14
th place finish out of 31 teams in one of the nation’s premier cross country events. This is Speaks third top-10 individual performance in the last three meets.
Honorable Mention: Charles Mathenge, Stephen F. Austin; Julien Jeandree, Central Arkansas.
Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week – Alexandria Hackett, Abilene Christian
Hackett finished the 5K course against 91 other runners in 16:22.6 for her second victory of the season, leading ACU to four dual victories over UALR (19-42), UAPB (15-50), Central Arkansas (16-45), and Missouri State (17-44). She has finished among the top-individuals at all five regular-season competitions this fall and has earned her third consecutive weekly award.
Honorable Mention: Verity Ockenden, Lamar; Clarissa Smith; Southeastern La., Jacqueline Rushford, Northwestern State.
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
.