Cortez, Hackett Earn First Weekly Awards of 2017 Cross Country Season
Southland Conference
2017 Southland Cross Country Week One Recap
FRISCO, Texas – Southeastern Louisiana freshman Adam Cortez and Abilene Christian senior Michaela Hackett were named the Southland Conference cross country athletes of the week, the league announced Tuesday.
Southland Players of the Week are presented by
UniversalCoin.com.
Abilene Christian and Southeastern Louisiana are both back in action on Saturday, Sept. 16. ACU will host the Naimadu Classic while Southeastern heads to Baton Rouge for the LSU Invitational.
Men’s Athlete of the Week: Adam Cortez, Southeastern Louisiana – Fr. – El Paso, Texas
Competing in his first collegiate meet at the New Orleans Invitational, Cortez led the Lions with a second-place finish in 15:27.16, 1.21 seconds behind the winner, in a field of 48 runners. Cortez helped the Lions finish third out of six as a team.
Honorable Mention: Garrett Cortez, UIW; Ryan Cleary, Abilene Christian.
Women’s Athlete of the Week: Michaela Hackett, Abilene Christian – Sr. – Cranston, R.I.
Returning to official competition after her 2016 redshirt, Hackett led ACU to two first place victories over TCU and Texas State at the Baylor Twilight Invitational. In the women’s 4K, Michaela led the Wildcats with a third-place finish, coming in behind Baylor's unattached All-Big 12 honoree Lindsey Bradley (13.11.1) and Bear sophomore Anna West (13:19.6). The Baylor Twilight also served as a dual meet between the Wildcats and teams from Texas State and TCU. ACU women edged TCU, 29-30, and topped the Bobcats, 24-31.
Honorable Mention: Danielle Martinez, UIW; Erin Wrozek, Northwestern State; Tara Stuntz, Southeastern Louisiana.
Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director. Voting for one’s own athletes is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on 25 percent of ballots.