Benedictine College Sweeps First Heart Cross Country Runners of the Week of 2023

The first edition of the Heart Men's and Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week awards of the 2023 season were announced on Monday. 

Benedictine College swept the awards, as Natasha Ortiz was named the Heart Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week and teammate David Mannella earned the Heart Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week award.

Ortiz and the Ravens competed at the Baker University Rust Buster race in Baldwin City, Kansas. The senior ran the 4,000m race in a time of 15:06 and placed first individually. Benedictine won first-place as a team as well.

Mannella opened the season with a first-place finish at the Baker Rust Buster 5,000m race. He rank the 5K in a time of 15:36, out-pacing all 70 competitors. The Ravens also placed first as a team.