2018 All-Pacific West Conference Men's Cross Country Awards
2018 All-Pacific West Conference Women's Cross Country Awards

IRVINE, Calif. – Each in their first years running for Academy of Art women's cross country, two Urban Knights were recognized in Tuesday's announcement of Pacific West Conference post-season awards. Guiding ART U to a fourth-place finish at the PacWest Cross Country Championships, graduate student Hasna Kaarour was named PacWest Newcomer of the Year and Audrey Rosencrans garnered PacWest Freshman of the Year. Additionally, All-PacWest Team honors were officially awarded to Kaarour (First Team), Rosencrans (Second Team), and senior Giulia McIsaac (Third Team) on the women's side while, for the men, graduate students Freddie Hessian and Victor Moreau as well as redshirt junior Rabah Houali all received First Team selections for their performances at the championship meet.

A vote by the PacWest head coaches determined the individual honors and the All-PacWest teams were determined by the results of the PacWest Championship meet on Nov. 2. The top-21 finishers received All-PacWest honors, with seven runners on each team.

Kaarour, a three-time PacWest Runner of the Week (Sept. 4, Sept. 25, Oct. 23), remained among the race's leaders throughout the PacWest Championship competition and wound up taking second overall with a 6k lifetime-best 22:04.1 in the end. The All-PacWest First Team honoree had come into the meet with individual victories at the SF State Invitational (Sept. 21) and UC San Diego Triton Classic (Oct. 20).

Rosencrans, the highest finishing freshman at the PacWest Championship, started her collegiate career with what has been her fastest time on a 6k course (22:37.4) at the USF Invitational (Sept. 1). She was awarded PacWest Freshman of the Week honors for her efforts. At the conference championship meet, Rosencrans captured All-PacWest Second Team honors with an 11th-place finish overall.

McIsaac picked up her third straight All-PacWest Team selection, taking 18th overall at 23:01.5 in the PacWest Championship while the trio of Hessian, Houali, and Moreau each placed among the race's top six. Hessian made a late move into third overall, crossing the finish line with a new 8k lifetime-best of 25:01.9. One of the biggest moves came from Houali, however, who rose six places in the final stages and took fifth overall with his own lifetime-best 25:12.0 mark. Consistent positioning throughout had Moreau come through at sixth overall with a time of 25:16.7.

Academy of Art sends these two individuals along with its full men's and women's squads to NCAA West Regionals this year hosted by Montana State Billings at Amend Park in Billings, Mont. this Saturday, Nov. 17.