Tweet #theGAC  RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the league’s fourth Runners of the Week awards for the 2021 season. Southern Arkansas’ Catherine Benavidez and Rob Kraus earned the Women’s and Men’s honors, respectively, following their efforts at the Lois Davis Invitational.
 
GAC WOMEN’S RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Catherine Benavidez, Southern Arkansas, Fr., Magnolia, Texas
Benavidez finished second in the individual competition of the Lois Davis Invitational. Her 5K time of 19:31.7 represented her personal best. Benavidez led the Muleriders to a 55-point victory in the team competition as they placed six runners amongst the top eight finishers. SAU has won on its home course six times in 11 years.
 
GAC MEN’S RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Rob Kraus, Southern Arkansas, Sr., The Woodlands, Texas
Kraus collected the first individual victory of his career after running a 25:28.5 at the Muleriders’ Lois Davis Invitational. He won by 43.7 seconds as part of an SAU team title. He recorded a personal best time at the event. The Muleriders won by 37 points, the largest margin of victory in meet history.
 
OTHERS NOMINATED
 
Mallory Boden, Fr. (Northwestern Oklahoma State)
 
Ian Kimutai, So. (Northwestern Oklahoma State)