DENVER - Idaho's Barry Britt and Julia Veseth have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference men and women's Cross Country Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week of Sept. 29 - Oct. 5.
Britt, a sophomore from Hampton, B.C., Canada, was the Vandals' top finisher at the Charles Bowles Invitational on Oct. 2, placing seventh overall and giving his team a fourth-place finish. Britt's time of 24:00.48 on the 8K course broke an Idaho course record, the second Idaho course record he has broken this season, and was also the fastest 8K time in the WAC this year. His performance helped Idaho finish higher than a pair of regionally-ranked teams out of the 23-team deep field. Britt now has the two fastest 8K times this year, as he bested his time of 24:12.58 he recorded at the Sundodger Invitational on Sept. 18.
Veseth, a junior from Moscow, Idaho, led the Idaho women to the Charles Bowles Invitational title with her fourth-place finish in the 5K race. In a field of 257 runners, that included athletes from Division I, II and III, her time of 17:37.18 was the best amongst any Division I competitor. The race was the fastest 5K time of Veseth's career.
Other men's nominees: Ian Ruybalid, New Mexico State; Brian McKenna, Utah State
Other women's nominees: Ashley Aitken, Hawai'i, Jenifer McEntire, Nevada, Courtney Schultz, New Mexico State, Jessie Chugg, Utah State
