PacWest Press Release
Phoenix, AZ -- For their record-setting performances at the 2010 Bronco Invitational, four members of the Academy of Art University women's cross country team have been honored by the Pacific West Conference. Headlined by junior Cassandra Schumacher's second PacWest Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week award, freshman Kylie Long along with juniors Stacey Toth and Leticia Saldaña all garnered Weekly Top 10 selections. The honors were announced by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix, AZ, on Monday, Oct. 18, for races contested on Oct. 16.
Leading an Urban Knights team that recorded numerous personal bests, Schumacher turned in her top time this season with a 19:25.8 on the 5k course at Baylands Park. She crossed the line in 25th place out of countable runners. Her time put her in front of top finishers from Division I Pepperdine and University of San Diego as well as Division II Cal State Monterey Bay. Schumacher's new personal best cut over 40 seconds off her previous record set at the Mills Invitational on Sept. 18.
Continuing to improve as the season progresses, Long dropped her time below 20:00 at the Bronco Invite. She earned a 19:53.4 mark on the 5k course after a strong performance on last week's 6k in San Francisco. Long took home 48th place among countable runners. Her time was better than all competitors from University of San Diego and CSUMB as well as ahead of the second finisher for the University of Pacific. As a personal record, Long's new best was a full minute off her previous top time at the Hornet Jamboree on Sept. 11.
Toth, the ART U women's cross country captain, had arguably her best run in an Urban Knights uniform at the Bronco Invite. She set a new career mark of 20:33 and improved on her previous time at this meet by more than a full minute. Overall, Toth finished 64th among countable runners and posted a time in front of all runners from PacWest opponents Dominican and Notre Dame de Namur. She provided important guidance for an Academy of Art University squad competing against several Division I programs in the race.
Along with her teammates, Saldaña dropped her previous top time significantly on Saturday. She finished 75th out of countable runners with a time of 20:45.5. This mark bested her result at the Hornet Jamboree on Sept. 11 by 56 seconds while propelling the team to its 11th place finish. Saldaña also finished ahead of the fourth place runners from San Diego and Pacific.
This week's honor is the second Runner of the Week for Schumacher in 2010. Long earns her third Weekly Top 10 of the season while Saldaña takes home her second and Toth garners her first selection of 2010.
