October 99 Athletes of the Week

 October 26

This week's "Athletes' of the Week" are all the University of Akron Cross Country athletes going to MAC Championships this week at Kent (Oct 30, 10am). They have trained hard, overcome adversity, and put in the dedicated time this year to prepare for this important meet. We wish them luck.

October 19

 (Soph) Michelle Rizzo

Perry HS, Painesville OH

(Jr) Rob Murray

Firestone HS, Akron OH

   
 For the third time this season Michelle Rizzo has been honored with Athlete of the Week Honors. This week she met this distinction because of her outstanding performance at the Wolverine Interregional meet on the campus of University of Michigan. She placed 5th in the national caliber event ahead of any other performer representing the MAC and the Great Lakes Region. Her time of 17:53 on a very tough course help lead the women 8th place finishahead of rivals Kent, and Ohio University.  Rob Murray for the second time of the season has been named Athlete of the Week. At the Michigan Interregional meet at the University of Michigan he ran hard and impressive against tough odds. Two of his top level teammates (Mickey Andrade and Paul Robinette) had to be withdrawn shortly before the race because of sickness and injury. This left the team without enough members to score as a team. Regardless of the let down Murray kept up his tenacious attitude placing 37th overall against a national field. He ran an impressive time of 25:59 on a difficult course.

 October 12

  (Jr) Laura Jones

Mentor (Oh)

(Sr) Luke Dostal

Massilon, Perry (Oh)

   
 For the second time this season Laura Jones was named Athlete of the Week. Jones continues to make significant progress this Fall over her previous year's performances. At the All-Ohio she took 13th putting her on the ALL-Ohio Team. The was an overwhelming improvement over last year's 133rd placing in this meet.  Luke Dostal helped Akron effort to a 9th place overall finish at the All-Ohio Championships. He took 72 place. He was Akron's 4th runner. Last week he was the Zip's 5th runner. He ran a tough, hard race improving significantly over previous weeks' performances.

 Jaime Alton given special recognition for her performance at All-Ohio.

 

  (Fr) Paul Robinette

Girard HS, Girard, OH

(Soph) Michelle Rizzo

Perry HS, Painesville OH

   
 Paul Robinett was chosen as this week's male athlete of the week because of his tough performance at the McDonalds/OU Invite. As a freshman he hung as the Zips' third man placing 13th. Inexperienced, Robinett has been running like a veteran this season finishing strong in every race.  For the second time this season Michelle Rizzo has been named female athlete of the week. She earned this distinction at the McDonalds/OU Invite because of her tenacious running. She struggled throughout the race holding on to the leaders giving everything she had, making sure she put herself in a position to win. She ended up third, but helped direct the Zips to anther win.