IRVINE, Calif. – Gabe Plendcio won his second race in a row to start the season, taking first place at the Sundowner Invitational and leading Biola to a first-place team finish. On the women’s side, both Biola and Concordia took second place at their respective races, while the Concordia men also took second place at the Coyote Challenge.
 
Awards for the week of Sept. 16-22
 
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
 
RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Gabe Plendcio, Biola
Sr. – Ramona, Calif./Ramona/Communications
Plendcio won his second race of the year and his second Runner of the Week award after taking first place at the Sundowner Invitational at the site of the 2019 NCAA West Regional. The senior finished the race in a time of 24:36.5, beating the next runner by 16 seconds. Plendcio helped Biola earn a first-place finish as a team with score of 38 to beat NCAA Division I Portland, leading a field of 10 teams.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Jose Munguia, Concordia
Fr. – Tustin, Calif./Tustin
Munguia finished in 27th place out of 140 runners at the Coyote Challenge for Concordia. The freshman helped Concordia take second place as a team overall, earning the top spot of any NCAA Division II team. Munguia completed the course in a time of 25:30.6 and was the ninth NCAA Division II runner across the finish line.
 
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
 
RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Bailey Wade, Concordia
Sr. – Orange, Calif./El Modena/Physical Education
Wade took third place at the Coyote Challenge with a time of 17:58.8 out of 146 runners. She helped Concordia take second place out of 12 teams with a score of 66, which was the best score of any NCAA Division II team at the race.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Jori Paradis, Concordia
Fr. – Silverton, Ore./Silverton
Paradis finished the 5K course at UC San Bernardino with a time of 18:25.87 to take 18th place at the Coyote Challenge. She was the fifth freshman across the finish line and the first from an NCAA Division II school.