University of Houston Athletics
Brian Barraza Named American AOTW
10/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
PROVIDENCE â€" Junior distance runner Brian Barraza has been named the American Athletic Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week for his performance at the Texas A&M Invitational, the conference announced Tuesday.
Barraza ran a 23:28.4 in the 8K at the Texas A&M Invitational on Sept. 26 to claim back-to-back individual championships to start his season. Barraza finished more than three seconds ahead of Charles Mathenge of Stephen F. Austin to claim victory.
Barraza opened his season with a victory at the 40th Annual Rice Invitational on Sept. 11, when he ran the 5.5K in 18:33.72 to win by over seven seconds.
The award marks the second time that Barraza has been named American Cross Country Athlete of the Week after receiving the honor on Sept. 3, 2014. Barraza has also been named American Track Athlete of the Week twice in his career.
Barraza also became the second Cougar this season to receive the honor, after junior Maddie Brown was named Athlete of the Week on Sept. 8 after her victory at the HBU Season Opener.
The Houston men's and women's cross country teams have enjoyed a strong start to the season after each squad claimed victory at the HBU Season Opener before the men finished second and the women third at the Rice Invitational.
UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
Barraza and the Cougars return to Houston for the final stretch before post season competition when they compete in the HBU Invitational on Oct. 9. The women will compete in a three-mile race beginning at 5 p.m., while the men will run a four-mile race at 5:30.
Following the HBU Invite, the Cougars head to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the Pre-Nationals meet, which will be held on the same course that the NCAA Championships will be run on in November.
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