PacWest Conference Cross Country Weekly Awards (Sept. 20)

IRVINE, Calif. -- After each contributing to ART U Cross Country's strong collective performance contending with NCAA Division I competition at the Speedway Duals on Sept. 15, graduate student Joshua Thorson has earned Pacific West Conference Co-Runner of the Week while Marvin Thomas collected PacWest Freshman of the Week. The awards are based on races Sept. 12-18.

Thorson battled for the top position with Gabe Arias-Sheridan of Saint Mary's for the entirety of the 7.25k race and ended up claimed second overall by a single step at the finish line. Thorson would finish with a time of 22:41, beating out the first place runner from SF State (ranked sixth in the West Region) and top finishers from both Santa Clara and Sacramento State

Thomas, a product of Friedrich Dessauer Gym in Germany, showed growth in just his second collegiate race. He would finish 33rd overall with a time of 24:40. Averaging a 5:28 mile time, Thomas would serve as the fifth and final qualifier toward the Urban Knights' third place team finish.

This is the second PacWest Runner of the Week honor for Thorson this season and the first in Thomas' career.