Pierce, Shank Earn Weekly Cross Country Honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Michael Pierce (Southwest Baptist) and Kimi Shank (Missouri Southern) have been selected as MIAA Cross Country Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of Sept. 19 as selected by a conference SID panel. The award is Shank's second conference honor of the year, while Pierce is recognized for the first time this season.
 
MIAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Michael Pierce, Sr., Southwest Baptist
Pierce placed seventh at the Missouri Southern Stampede with an 8K time of 23:56.89. The senior from Kansas City, Mo., was the top finishing MIAA runner. Pierce finished second among all Division II runners at the meet. Only one runner from the two Division I teams placed higher than Pierce. Southwest Baptist finished third out of 35 teams.

Others nominated: Laban Sialo, UCM; Skyler Delmott, ESU; Zach Layton, NWMSU; Tim Testa, PSU.

MIAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Kimi Shank, Sr., Missouri Southern
Shank finished in third place at the annual Southern Stampede with a 5K time of 17:36.65. The senior from St. James, Mo., placed only behind two Arkansas runners, defeating 13 other Division I runners in the process. Shank was the top Division II performer at the meet, helping the Lions place second in the team competition, just 22 points behind the University of Arkansas. Southern defeated three nationally-ranked Division II schools, as well as one nationally ranked NAIA institution.

Others nominated: Katie Mona, ESU; Kayli Hrdlicka, NWMSU; Rebecca Brigance, SBU.