By Steve Holt , Sports Writer
Junior runner Bernard Manirakiza and sophomore Yuliya Stashkiv have been selected Lone Star Conference male and female runners of the week, respectively, for the second time this season. Manirakiza placed second overall Satur-day at Cowboy Jam-boree in Stillwater, Okla., while Stashkiv was 11th in the women’s race.
Manirakiza’s 8,000-meter time of 24:10 was the top time in the conference this season and led ACU to a fifth-place finish Saturday. Stashkiv also ran the conference’s fastest time over 6,000 meters, finishing in 21:41 and leading ACU to a 12th-place finish.
Stashkiv doesn’t put much importance on individual accolades.
“It means nothing,” Stashkiv said. “I will just keep going.”
Despite the award for her performance Saturday, Stashkiv said she was disappointed with her race because she started too fast (5:18 first mile) and the course was hilly.
“It was horrible. I want to forget it-I began too fast,” she said.
Manirakiza led three Wildcats who broke the top 10 at the Cowboy Jamboree. Junior Martin O’Kello was fifth in 24:27, followed by junior Arthemon Sindayigaya in 10th (24:35).
Both the men’s and women’s teams will have this weekend off before the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., Oct. 18. On Oct. 25, both teams will run in the Lone Star Conference championships in Portales, N.M. The men’s and women’s teams are favored to win conference titles.
