by staff–9 Sep ’19
Wyoming senior cross country runner Paul Roberts has been named the National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), it was announced Monday by the organization.
Roberts, a native of Lyons, Colo., is the first ever Wyoming athlete to earn this recognition during the cross country season.
“Paul had a really good end to his summer training, and he had to put up with a little bit of an obstacle, but he came through it well,” said head cross country coach Scott Dahlberg. “It was nice to see him come out and compete really well. He ran smart and tough. That’s a great honor that he’s well deserving of.”
Last Friday, Sept. 6, at the Wyoming Invite in Cheyenne, Roberts placed first among the field of 72 athletes, including 2018 NCAA top-10 finishers Joe Klecker and John Dressel from Colorado. Roberts blazed through the five-kilometer course in 15:05.3, two seconds faster than his race last season and seven seconds faster than second place at this year’s event.
Robert’s tape-breaking effort helped guide the No. 16-ranked Cowboys to the top of the team standings with 47 points. Wyoming defeated No. 4-ranked Colorado by four points and No. 17-ranked Colorado State by nine points.
Last season, Roberts was an All-American, as he finished 20th overall at the NCAA National Championships. This is the third race win in Roberts’ Wyoming career, after he transferred from CSU-Pueblo prior to his junior season. He also won the Wyoming Invite and the Mountain West Championship last season.
Roberts and the Cowboys are back in action on Friday, Oct. 4, when they travel to South Bend, Ind., to race in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational.
