Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Baidy Ba, Kent State, Junior
Pre-National Orange 8K, 1st, 24:06.7
Baidy Ba raced to his second career victory on a rainy Saturday morning in the men's Orange 8K at the XC23 Pre-Nationals meet with a time of 24:06.7. Ba made his move on the downhill with about 500 meters remaining, surging ahead of the leader for a winning margin of 8.1 seconds.
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Esme Davies, Eastern Michigan, Senior
Arturo Barrios Invitational, 19:54.3/6K, PR
Out of the gate at the Arturo Barrios Invitational, Oct. 13, EMU senior Esme Davies (Lake District, England/Queen Elizabeth Grammar School) led the Eastern women in the 6K with a 6:33.8 2k split, finishing the race ninth overall individually in 19:54.3, marking the fourth straight race tabbing a personal-best time for the miler. Prior to race hosted by Texas A&M, Davies notched three straight top-five finishes, with one each at the Jeff Drenth Memorial (2nd), Sept. 1, the Mel Brodt Collegiate Open (3rd), Sept. 15, and the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic (4th), Sept. 30. Overall, Davies paced the Eagles to a ninth place finish out of 42 teams.
