Runners of the Week - No. 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - John Gilbertson of The Master's (Calif.) has been named NAIA National Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week and Concordia's (Ore.) Gina Paletta has been tabbed NAIA National Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday. Gilbertson and Paletta were selected based on their performances from Sept. 12 - 18. They were chosen out of a pool of conference/independent/unaffiliated group runners of the week selections.

A week after setting a course record of 24:24.0 at the Asics/UC Irvine Invitational held on Sept. 10, Gilbertson was the top NAIA performer at the NCAA Division I UC Riverside Invitational on Sept. 17. The junior from Saugus, Calif., raced to a second-place finish among 242 competitors with an 8K time of 23:55.4. His time is the fastest in The Master's school history. The ninth-ranked Mustangs totaled 162 team points to place fifth among 25 teams, including NCAA Division I and II programs.

Paletta defeated the Southern Oregon Raider Invitational field by 30 seconds with a 5K time of 18:22 on Sept. 17. The individual title is the freshman's second in as many races as a Cavalier. Paletta, a native of Wrexham, Wales, helped seventh-ranked Concordia to a second-place finish as the Cavaliers tallied 46 team points.

The next Runners of the Week announcement will be on Sept. 28.

Men’s Nominees: Mitchell Dale, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Matt Fideler, Dakota State (S.D.); Landon Hamilton, Cumberlands (Ky.); Austin Houchens, Berea (Ky.); Thomas Zunie, Haskell (Kan.); Joel Gibbs, Montreat (N.C.); Will Kirkikis, Spring Hill (Ala.); Alex Bett, Union (Tenn.); Ignacio Fernandez, SCAD Savannah (Ga.); Colin Morrissey, Concordia (Neb.); David Duque, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas); Mike Miroux, Mount Mercy (Iowa); Kwame Jackson, Xavier (La.); Izzy Miranda, Lubbock Christian (Texas); Will MacNeil, Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.); Kyle Anderson, Spring Arbor (Mich.); Dustin Heiler, Aquinas (Mich.); Seth Bridges, Northwest (Wash.).

Women’s Nominees: Carlie Rider, Indiana East; Stephanie Warnke, Dakota State (S.D.); Talisa Budders, Haskell (Kan.); Lindsay Mizok, Montreat (N.C.); Bea Foley, Viterbo (Wis.); Kate Imwalle, Spring Hill (Ala.); Allison Martin, Union (Tenn.); Melanie Novack, SCAD Savannah (Ga.); Lindsey Jo Martin, Stephens (Mo.); Miriam Vazquez, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas); Ashley Huizar, McPherson (Kan.); Sharon Ronoh, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Zahri Jackson, Xavier (La.); Jessica Weborg, Morningside (Iowa); Holly Kopp, The Master's (Calif.); Jill Louisignau, Cornerstone (Mich.); Jenna Norris, Taylor (Ind.); Rhianna Grossman, Carroll (Mont.); Hilary Halford, St. Francis (Ill.).

2011 Composite Award Winners (Men’s; Women’s)
Week 1: Evans Kirwa, Embry-Riddle (Fla.); Lauren Jimison, Azusa Pacific (Calif.)
Week 2: John Gilbertson, The Master's (Calif.); Gina Paletta, Concordia (Ore.)