CLAREMONT, Calif. - Jerry Xu of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's cross country team earned the SCIAC Athlete of the Week Award for events through Sunday, Oct. 18, the conference announced today. 

Xu returned to his familiar place atop the Stags finishers by coming in 12th place overall, out of 209 runners, with a 24:10.3, against a field of mostly DI and DII runners at the UC Riverside Highlander Invitational. Earlier this year at UC Riverside, Xu ran the second-fastest time in CMS history with a 23:55.7 back on Sept. 19. 

Xu has now earned the SCIAC Athlete of the Week Award three times this season, including after his performance at the NCAA Division III Pre-Nationals earlier this month. 

CMS will return to action for the SCIAC Championships on Monday, Oct. 30 at Pomona-Pitzer's cross country course.