Colorado University Athletics
XC Stars Benner, Murphy Earn Athlete of the Week
November 03, 2015 | Cross Country
BOULDER - Kaitlyn Benner and Pierce Murphy are CU Athletes of the Week for their outstanding performances that helped both the men's and women's cross country teams to win the 2015 Pac-12 Championship.
Benner earned a runner-up finish to lead CU, finishing the 6k race in 19:55.5, which was just over two seconds behind the Pac-12 Champion, Stanford's Aisling Cuff (19:53.1). She helped the Buffs win the their second Pac-12 Championship since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. No. 2 CU defeated No. 5 Oregon 45-51 to take the title.
Murphy led the Buffs to their fifth straight Pac-12 Cross Country Championship last Friday, placing fourth overall. Murphy finished the 8k race in 23:15.1, making it the third time he has led the Buffs this season. In addition, he has placed in the top-five in all three races. The Buffs are the only team that has won the Men's Pac-12 cross country title. The top-ranked Buffs defeated No. 23 Stanford 46-57.
Also nominated for this week's honors: Alexis Austin (volleyball), Sarah Kinzner (soccer), and Patrick Carr (football).
Austin hammered a career-high 27 kills and hit .414 against Oregon State on Friday night. She also picked up 11 digs for her fifth double-double this season. Austin added four block assists and did not commit a single reception error as she was served to 14 times. On Saturday night against Oregon, Austin led the Buffs again with 16 kills and had nine digs and two blocks.
Austin averaged 4.30 kills, 2.00 digs and 0.60 blocks per set while hitting .266 last weekend.
Soccer's Kinzner scored her first career goal for the Buffs on Friday in a 3-3 tie with No. 21 Arizona. Kinzner's goal was the first in the game, helping CU jump out to a 2-0 halftime lead. She finished the game with two shot attempts and also attempted a shot in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Arizona State
Carr had 19 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Buffs 35-31 loss at UCLA Saturday. It marked his first career 100-yard game as well as his first collegiate touchdown, which put the Buffs up 31-28 in the fourth quarter. His 19 carries was also a career high as the Buffs ran 56 times for 242 yards, both season bests.
