PacWest Release

Phoenix, AZ -- Building off two consecutive seasons of being named Pacific West Conference Runner of the Year, senior Amos Maru is off to another strong start with his first PacWest Runner of the Week honor. Maru led the Academy of Art University men's cross country team against elite Division I opponents at the 2011 University of San Francisco Invitational this past weekend. Also helping the Urban Knights take 4th as a squad were seniors Daveson Marindich and Simon Mutai who both earned PacWest Weekly Top 10 selections. The honors were announced by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix, AZ, on Monday, Sept. 5 for races contested on Sept. 3.



After serving as the top Urban Knights finisher throughout last year, Maru again led the ART U pack on Saturday. He turned in a 17th place result with a time of 25:37. This is the first PacWest Runner of the Week honor for Maru this season and the sixth in his ART U career.





Marindich ran alongside his teammate Maru for much of the USF Invitational meet and consequently finished one spot behind in 18th place. The Eldoret, Kenya native posted a time of 25:39 overall. He and Maru both ahead of a group of runners which included competitors from Stanford, USF, and UC Berkeley.






Like Maru and Marindich, Mutai also started off the season strong with a 26:42 time on Saturday. His mark was the best he has turned in for either the USF or SF State Invitationals and his second best on the 8k Golden Gate Park course. Mutai captured 24th among four-year participants.

Marindich claims first PacWest Weekly Top 10 honor this year and the 11th in his career while Mutai takes his first of 2011 and fourth of his career.