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.)
