PacWest Press Release

Phoenix, AZ – Junior Amos Maru continues to succeed this season, adding another Pacific West Conference Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week award to his collection. Maru along with junior Daveson Marindich and senior Geoffrey Cheruiyot were all honored for their performances at the 2010 SF State Invitational this past Friday. The honors were announced by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix, AZ, on Monday, Oct. 11, for races contested on Oct. 8-9.

In a 4th place finish for Academy of Art University at Golden Gate Park on Oct. 8, Maru ran away with 1st place and a time of 24:56. His top mark was not only six seconds ahead of Marindich in 2nd, but also more than 35 seconds in front of the 3rd finisher. Maru's time was his second best on an 8k course this season and tied his fourth best for his career. Maru completed the 8k race well ahead of the top two finishers from USF and Humboldt State who went 1st and 2nd respectively in the team competition.

Marindich, who led all competitiors for a significant portion of the race, took 2nd place behind Maru. Running the 8k Golden Gate Park course in 25:02, Marindich posted his top time of the season and was just a second off his career best set last year at the UW Sundodger Invitational. The final mark by Marindich was a full 30 seconds in front of the next four-year runner.




“Amos had another great meet and Daveson was leading for a good part of the race so that was exciting for him,” Assistant Coach Anne Ricketts said. “Overall it was an excellent effort up front because Amos really wanted to help Daveson succeed. Considering the competitive field they faced at the Stanford Invitational, this was another great performance by those two. I think it was definitely a mental breakthrough.”
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At the SF State Invitational, Cheruiyot ran an impressive race as well. The senior from Nairobi, Kenya had not only his best time on an 8k course this season (27:39), but also had his highest placement (44th) in four 2010 meets. Cheruiyot finished as the third Urban Knight ahead of several runners from Humboldt State and Central Washington.

This is the third PacWest Runner of the Week honor for Maru in 2010 and the fifth of his career. Marindich earns his third Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll selection for this season and the eighth of his career. Finally, Cheruiyot was chosen for the Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll for the first time this year and the second of his career.