FRISCO, Texas – Junior
Deion Hardy of The University of the Incarnate Word men's cross country team was awarded the Southland Conference Male Runner of the Week award, the league announced Tuesday.
For the first time in four years, UIW is fully eligible to compete for Southland Conference and NCAA Tournament championships, so the Cardinals are eager to begin conference play.
"Deion earned this award with a hard-fought victory at ACU," stated head coach,
Derek Riedel. "It was his first-ever cross country victory and it came at a good time of the season, as he starts to round into shape for the post season."
Hardy, a Temple, Texas, native, defeated Stephen F. Austin's Erick Rotich by two seconds to claim the ACU Naimadu Classic individual championship and help the Cardinals finish first overall as a team. He ran a 25:27.8 in the 8k. The time was not a PR – he ran a 25:08.3 at the UIW Invitational last year – but it was his first individual championship.
He was one of five Cardinals to finish in the Top-10, which gives UIW a boost of confidence leading into the conference championships, held at the very same course in Abilene.
ACU's Alexandria Hackett won the women's weekly award, while junior
Emily Wilson earned Honorable Mention honors.
UP NEXT
UIW will compete at the Arkansas Chili Pepper Festival on Saturday, Sept. 30.
STAY TUNED
The Cardinals host the 12
th annual UIW Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Live Oak City Park.
For the most up-to-date information on Incarnate Word Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow Incarnate Word Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like Incarnate Word Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.
