GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following the first meets of the 2023 cross country season. Wayne State redshirt fifth-year Zac Truman was named GLIAC Men's Athlete of the Week while Wayne State junior Reagan Justice received GLIAC Women's Athlete of the Week honors.
MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Zac Truman, Wayne State
Wayne State University men's cross country athlete Zac Truman (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Eisenhower) started his 2023 season by placing first overall in the 8K race at the Skippers Cross Country Showcase, hosted by St. Clair County Community College, on Friday, September 1. His event-winning mark of 25:08.50 was over a minute quicker than the runner-up finisher - WSU teammate Tyler Buchanan. The victory marked a completed comeback effort for the redshirt fifth-year runner, as Truman had missed the entire 2022 campaign and hadn't competed in a collegiate meet since the 2021 NCAA Championships on November 20 of that year. Truman picked up his first ever collegiate outdoor cross country victory with this result. It's the second time that he has garnered GLIAC Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week in his career. He also brought home the honors for the week of October 8, 2019.
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Reagan Justice, Wayne State
Wayne State University women's cross country athlete Reagan Justice (Canton, Mich. / Salem) won the women's 5K race at St. Clair County Community College's Skippers Cross Country Showcase on Friday, September 1 to kick off the 2023 season. Justice's time of 18:25.40 was just over a minute ahead of the rest of the field of 39 runners. The junior has shown an ability to have strong season-opening meets, as this was her third consecutive triumph to begin a season. She had previously won the season openers at the Warrior Challenge in 2021 and the Northwood Invitational in 2022. Justice receives the recognition of GLIAC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week for the fourth time in her collegiate career. She earned the honor twice in 2022 (September 26 and October 10) and once in 2021 (September 14).
