Sept. 26, 2006

IRVING, Texas - This week's Conference USA Cross Country Athletes of the Week accolades go to senior Elizabeth Ambrus of UAB and Patrick Mutai of UTEP. The honor marks the second of Ambrus and first for Mutai this season. Both student-athletes had solid performances at their respected meets.

Cross Country Athletes of the Week
MALE
Patrick Mutai, Sophomore, Eldoret, Kenya Mutai led the 13th-ranked UTEP cross country team to its second consecutive flawless meet as the Miners won the Kachina Classic in Las Cruces, N.M. Saturday. He established a New Mexico State Golf Course record in an 8K winning time of 21:59.3, one second ahead of fellow Miner Stephen Samoei (22:00.0). The Miners' pack took the first five slots to chalk up a perfect 15 points. Each of UTEP's top four finishers broke the course record.

Mutai is the third different Miner to win the weekly honor.

FEMALE
Elizabeth Ambrus, Senior, Arlington Heights, Ill. (Rolling Meadows HS) Ambrus, the defending C-USA individual champion, captured top medalist honors at the Great American Cross Country Festival in Hoover, Ala., last weekend. Ambrus clocked a winning time of 18:18.80 over the challenging 5K course.

The Arlington Heights, Ill., native guided her squad to the team title (41 points), upsetting fifth-ranked Brigham Young (54 points). The meet also featured teams from South Carolina, Florida State and Clemson.

Ambrus also earned the weekly award on Sept. 5.

2006 C-USA Cross Country Athletes of the Week
September 5
Male - Brett Turowski, Tulsa
Female - Elizabeth Ambrus, UAB

September 12
Male - Stephen Samoei, UTEP
Female - Marissa Daniels, Rice

September 19
Male - Dominic Kiprono Tanui, UTEP
Female - Fatimoh Muhammed, UTEP

September 26
Male - Patrick Mutai, UTEP
Female - Elizabeth Ambrus, UAB