Abel, Mooney Claim First PSUAC, USCAA Runner Of The Week Honors

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A pair of Penn State Brandywine freshmen were selected for Penn State University Athletic Conference weekly awards on Tuesday as Brian Abel (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury) was named men's runner of the week and Catharine Mooney (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) earned the women's runner of the week award. The duo also claimed national awards, winning the United States Collegiate Athletic Association runner of the week awards.

Abel made Brandywine history on Saturday at the Delaware Valley University Invitational, becoming the first Lion to win an individual meet championship. On the 6K course, Abel, running in his first collegiate meet, crossed the finish line in a time of 21:04. His time was 44 seconds faster than his next closest competitor in the 30-man race.

Mooney also starred during her first college meet, posting a second-place showing at the 21-woman Delaware Valley Invitational. She ran the course in a time of 27:10, the fifth-fastest 6K time in program history. Her mark was 40 seconds quicker than Alexis Luna of Penn State Schuylkill, the defending PSUAC women's cross country champion.

Brandywine will compete in the Dutchman Invitational hosted by Lebanon Valley College on Saturday.