IRVINE, Calif. – This week’s PacWest Men’s Cross Country Runners of the Week are Joshua Thorson (Academy of Art), Dennis Messmer (California Baptist), and Marvin Thomas (Academy of Art). The awards are based on races Oct 3-9.
 
CO-RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Joshua Thorson (Academy of Art)
Gr. – Plymouth, Minn./University of Wisconsin-EAU Claire
 
Thorson placed first overall at the San Francisco State Invitational on Friday in a race that featured nine other West Region teams. Thorson finished with an average mile time of 4:59 and an overall time of 24:50, a full 12 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.  It was Thorson’s second individual win in his last three races. He helped lead Academy of Art to a first-place overall team finish.
 
CO-RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Dennis Messmer (CBU)
So. – Hilzingen, Germany/ Robert-Gerwig Schule Singen
 
Messmer was the first-place finisher at the CBU Invitational on Friday where he helped his team to a first-place overall finish.  He finished with an average mile time of 5:06 and an overall time of 25:21.9. It was the first-career individual win for Messmer.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Marvin Thomas (Academy of Art)
Fr. – Aschaffenburg, Germany/Friedrich Dessauer Gym
 
Thomas finished 31^st overall at the San Francisco State Invitational on Friday.  With an average mile time of 5:27 and an overall time of 27:08, he helped Academy of Art to a first-place overall team finish. He earned his third conference honor in the last four weeks.