Thanks to another top 10 performance at a cross country meet with a large field, Seattle University senior Erik Barkhaus (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) has been named the Western Athletic Conference Male Runner of the Week, announced Tuesday by the conference office.
At the Dellinger Invitational last Saturday at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ore., Barkhaus finished the eight-kilometer course in 23:56, the first time he posted a time under 24 minutes over eight kilometers in a collegiate cross country meet. Among a field of 101 runners, he crossed the finish line in seventh place, just 18 seconds behind the race winner and ahead of the top runners from both crosstown rival Washington and conference foe Idaho.
"Along with the men's team in general, Barkhaus had a great race Saturday. He beat a lot of distinguished runners and proved to himself and others that he is ready to race on the high end of the NCAA DI level. He is very deserving of this honor. I have full confidence that this is just the start of what's to come from him this season," Seattle U head cross country coach Trisha Steidl said.
This is the second time this season Barkhaus has earned the conference's weekly award, previously receiving the honor Sept. 4 after finishing first at the UW/SU Open. He also finished fourth at the National Catholic Championships in Notre Dame, Ind., on Sept. 14.
The Seattle University cross country team will host the annual Emerald City Open Saturday, Oct. 13, at Lower Woodland Park. The women's six-kilometer race is set to begin at 10:30 a.m., with the men's eight-kilometer race scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m.