FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- The Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) has announced its weekly awards following the first week of the 2019 cross country season. Southern Virginia freshman Sophia Dryden earned CAC Women's Athlete of the Week accolades, while Mary Washington freshman Patrick Brown claimed CAC Men's Athlete of the Week honors.
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Sophia Dryden - Southern Virginia
Southern Virginia freshman Sophia Dryden's debut did not disappoint for the Knights, as her top-place finish at the UMW Opener led the Knights to a team victory. Dryden finished the 4K course with a time of 15:10.76. The team victory is the program's first since joining Division III. The Knights won over a handful of CAC competition including Mary Washington, Christopher Newport and St. Mary's.
MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Patrick Brown - Mary Washington
Mary Washington freshman Patrick Brown led the pace at the UMW Opener on Friday, taking first place overall as Mary Washington's men finished in first place. The freshman crossed the tape at 15:44.32, to finish in first in his first collegiate race.
HONORABLE MENTION
WOMEN: Taylor Barkdoll (YCP), Michelle Valcich (CNU), Amanda Morrissey (UMW), Kara Taylor (SMC), Allison Keller (SAL)
MEN: Jake O'Neill (YCP), Sam Kolitsko (CNU), Mike Myers (SVU), Tyler Wilson (SMC), Mason Kimbell (SAL)
AROUND THE CAC
Christopher Newport's Michelle Valcich led the Captains during her first collegiate meet as the freshman placed ninth overall during the UMW Opener at the Clift Farm Road Course. During the competition, she completed the 4k in 16:06.21 while helping Christopher Newport finish third overall in the team standings...Sam Kolitsko led the Captains during his first collegiate meet as the freshman placed fifth overall at the UMW Opener on Friday at the Clift Farm Road Course. He eventually completed the 5k in 16:39.42 while helping Christopher Newport place third overall in the team standings...Amanda Morrissey led Mary Washington to a second place team finish at the UMW Opener on Friday by placing third overall in the 4000 meter race at 15:28.07 in her first collegiate race...Mike Myers placed second running a 15:50.57 in Southern Virginia's season opener at the UMW Opener to help guide the Knights to a second-place finish, one place higher than last season...St. Mary's Kara Taylor came in fifth overall out of forty-six runners with a time of 15:53.85 in the UMW Opener...Tyler Wilson started his year right where he left off last year as he was the first Seahawk to cross the finish line with a time of 17:31.34 which put him in 29th overall at the UMW Opener...Salisbury's Allison Keller finished in 20th place against Division I competition at the Salisbury Fall Classic with a time of 23:35.88, just six seconds off of her personal best...Mason Kimbell placed 16th in a field full of Division I competition at the Salisbury Fall Classic on Saturday. Kimbell finished in 27:20.99 to pace the Salisbury runners.