Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University sophomore Fikadu Gonzalez (Palencia, Spain) is this week's South Atlantic Conference WePlayed Sports Cross Country Runner of the Week, league officials announce from corporate headquarters. Gonzalez receives this distinction for the first time in his #WUXC career.

For the second time in three years, the No. 1 Wingate men's cross country team won the Paul Short Run College Gold Division Friday. Gonzalez finished seventh with his 8K time of 24:12.4. A Texas Tech transfer, Gonzalez was making his first WU appearance Friday.
 
The Bulldogs had six student-athletes in the Gold Division 8K top 25 Friday. Wingate posted 58 points to claim the team title in the Gold field. Lehigh University hosted the 52nd annual Paul Short Run presented by ASICS on the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course. The PSR is the largest NCAA XC meet in the nation.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate head cross country coach Pol Domenech
 
"We are honored to see Fikadu named Athlete of the Week. In only a few short weeks, he has done a great job adjusting to our system and becoming an important part of the team. His race was a great representation of his current fitness, and we are very happy with both his performance and the team's performance."
 
"With this said, we know there is still a lot of room for improvement between now and December 4. We are excited to keep working and see how much we can improve over the next two months."
 
Up Next
 
Both Wingate teams will compete in the Queens University of Charlotte Royals XC Challenge Friday, October 9 at McAlpine Creek Park. The Bulldogs conclude the regular season Friday, October 16, venturing to the University of Virginia for the Panorama Farms Invitational.
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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