OKLAHOMA CITY -- After a top-10 showing in just his second collegiate cross country start, John Brown University freshman Derek Nájera was named the Sooner Athletic Men's Runner of the Week, presented by Digital Scoreboards, the league office announced Tuesday morning (Sept. 15).
Nájera finished eighth in a field of 173 runners at the Queen City After Dark in Springfield, Mo., covering the 6K course at Allison Sports Town in 18:46. The Cartago, Costa Rica, native averaged a 5:02 pace while helping the Golden Eagles to a fourth-place team finish.
The performance continued a strong opening to Nájera's first cross country season. He made his collegiate debut at the Distance After Dark, clocking 21:20 over four miles to finish 30th overall.
The honor is the first SAC weekly award of Nájera's career.
The Golden Eagles return to action Oct. 3 at the Chile Pepper Festival, hosted by the University of Arkansas at Agri Park, with the men's race slated for 11:25 a.m.
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