Pia Earns Third Bruin Athletic Association Athlete of the Week Award

NEWBERG, Ore. - With the best time by a George Fox University runner in the NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country West Regional Championship on Nov. 13 at Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem, Ore., Joseph Pia has been named the Bruin Athletic Association Men’s Athlete of the Week for Nov. 8-14, the third time this fall he has been so honored.

Pia ran the 8K race in a time of 27:16.60, finishing 45th overall and for team scoring out of 116 competitors.  He was 1:53.43 behind individual champion Jackson Brainerd of Colorado College.  The freshman from Newberg, Ore., finished as the Bruins’ top runner for the sixth time in seven events this season.  George Fox completed its 2010 season by placing 12th out of 17 teams with 318 points in the West Regional, which was won by host Willamette University.

Pia was also named the BAA Men’s Athlete of the Week for Sept. 13-19 after finishing 10th in the Willamette Grass Course race on Sept. 17, and for Oct. 25-31 after a 23rd-place finish in the Northwest Conference Championship on Oct. 30.  He was honorable mention for the NWC Men’s Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week for Sept. 6-12 after an 11th-place finish in the BYU-Hawai’i Invitational on Sept. 11, and again for Sept. 13-19.

The Athlete of the Week Award for both men and women is presented throughout the Bruin sports seasons by the Bruin Athletic Association, whose mission is to provide George Fox student-athletes with an outstanding athletic and academic experience and to strengthen the overall competitiveness of the Bruin athletics program.  For more information about the organization or to become a member, visit the Bruin Athletic Association website.