Colorado University Athletics
Nelson and Pasciuto Pace Their Way to CU Athlete of the Week Honors
November 15, 2005 | Cross Country, General
BOULDER- Junior men's cross country runner Billy Nelson and fellow cross country runner sophomore Liza Pasciuto were named University of Colorado Athletes of the Week.
Nelson, a Bakersfield, Calif. (Taft Union) native, took first at the NCAA Mountain Regions on Saturday and paced CU to a first-place finish and its third straight region title, which qualified the team for the NCAA Championships. Nelson ran the 10k loop in 30:28.2 and notched his first top-honor at a major event. (He took first at the Rocky Mountain Shootout in 2003). It was his best time run at the NCAA Mountain Regions. With the finish, he earned his second All-Mountain Region honor.
Pasciuto, a Murrieta, Calif. (Murrieta Valley) native, took second overall and led the CU women to their second straight NCAA Mountain Region title. She finished as CU's top runner in the NCAA Mountain Regions with a time of 20:52.8. The runner-up finish is the best of her career, and earned her her second consecutive All-Mountain Region honor. Nelson and Pasciuto will help lead the cross country teams into the NCAA Championships next Monday, Nov. 21, when both teams travel to Terre Haute, Ind. in an attempt to defend their team national titles from a year ago.
Others nominated for this week's award were: Mason Crosby (football), Kara Richards (women's basketball), and Allie Griffin (volleyball).
Football: Mason Crosby, Junior, Georgetown, Texas
Crosby was perfect against Iowa State, making field goals of 31, 42, 57 yards and the only PAT he attempted. He is now 19-of-24 on the season, with his average field goal made an amazing 42.5 yards-a full seven yards better than any of the other 19 Lou Groza Award semifinalists. The 42-yard kick was made against the wind in the third quarter at Iowa State, while his 57-yard field goal in the fourth quarter improved him to 12-of-13 in the quarter for his career, including 9-of-10 of 41 yards or longer. On the season, he is now 13-of-17 in kicks of 40 yards or longer, including 5-of-6 from 50 yards-plus.
Women's Basketball: Kara Richards, Sophomore, Graham, Texas
Richard came through for 20 points in a 73-62 victory over the Regis Rangers. She also added five rebounds, one block, and two steals as she logged 24 minutes for the Buffs.
Volleyball: Allie Griffin, Senior, Baton Rouge, La.
Griffin registered 30 kills as the Buffs went 1-1 on their first week as a ranked team. She recorded 19 kills (.311) and added six digs and six blocks for CU in a close five-game loss against No.11 Texas (27-30, 33-31, 23-30, 30-25, 15-17). Against Baylor, she collected 11 kills, five assists, eight digs and five block-assists in the sweep. Griffin averaged 3.75 kills, 0.75 assists, 1.75 digs, 1.38 blocks and 4.56 points per game.
