IRVINE, Calif. – Academy of Art men’s and women’s cross country both won the PacWest Preview in Belmont, California, with each of the individual champions being named the PacWest Runners of the Week.
 
Swann Phelippeau blew past the competition in her first race of the season, recording a time of 24:27.3 on the 6k course, finishing more than 20 seconds before second place. That helped the Hawks pull out a narrow win over Fresno Pacific, which placed four runners inside the top 10.
 
Luisa Chavez led Holy Names to a sixth-place team finish after finishing in 33rd place individually with a time of 28:58.9 to earn Freshman of the Week Honors
 
The men’s winner was Gatien Airiau, who covered the 8k course in 27:24.1 to win by 23 seconds. Academy of Art had a team score of 35 to edge Fresno Pacific, which had a team score of 43. The Sunbirds were led by Connor Nolen who took second place with a time of 27:57.5.
 
Chandler Maciel took third place in his first collegiate race to earn recognition as the PacWest Freshman of the Week. Maciel recorded a time of 28:00.3 to help the Sunbirds finish in second place.
 
The PacWest also had winners in Riverside, where California Baptist dominated the Lancer Invite. Emeline Delanis won the women’s 4k in 14:20.9 as CBU put seven runners inside the top eight to earn the win. The Lancers’ men put six inside the top eight in the 6k as Michael Lowrie won with a time of 18:44.4.
 
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
 
RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Swann Phelippeau (ARTU)
So. – Ploeren, France/Saint Francois Xavier
 
Phelippeau won the first race of the 2017 season at the PacWest Preview, finishing the 6k course in 24:27.3 and an average mile time of 6:33.5. The sophomore finished more than 20 seconds before second place as she led the Urban Knights to a team victory with a score of 42.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Luisa Chavez (HNU)
Fr. – Fresno, Calif./Edison
 
Chavez had the Hawks’ best time in the first race of the year, taking 33rd place with a time of 28:58.9. Her average mile time was 7:46.4 as she led Holy Names to a sixth place finish out of eight teams.
 
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
 
RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Gatien Airiau (ARTU)
Gr. – Sassenage, France
 
Airiau picked up an individual win in his first race of the season, blowing past the competition with a time of 27:24.1 on the 8k course, winning by a margin of more than 23 seconds. His average mile time was 5:30.7 as the Urban Knights won with a score of 35.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Chandler Maciel (FPU)
Fr. – Hanford, Calif./Central Valley Christian
 
Maciel took third place in his first collegiate race with a time of 28:00.3 on the 8k course at the PacWest Preview. He had an average mile time of 5:38.0 to help Fresno Pacific finish in second place. He was right behind his teammate Connor Nolen, who took second place individually by a three-second margin.