STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Senior Sage Lancaster and sophomore Jace Poole took home the first pair of WAC Cross Country Athletes of the Week, the league office announced on Monday afternoon.
 
Both Lancaster and Poole earned their first WAC weekly honor. Both athletes finished the highest among all WAC runners at this past weekend's Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
 
"This is a great accomplishment by our student athletes," said Tarleton State Track and Field and Cross Country head coach Bobby Carter. "They continue to show up every week and get the job done. It has been great watching them each week and continue to improve and accomplish their goals."
 
Both the Texans men's and women's squads recorded their best finishes at the Chile Pepper Festival this past weekend. Both teams finished in 10^th, surpassing their performances from a season ago.
 
Lancaster set another personal best, cracking the 18-minute mark for the first time in a 5k in her collegiate career. On Saturday Lancaster crossed first for the Texan women, and 42^nd overall in 17:46.2. Lancaster's career mark helped propel the women to a 10^th place team finish, improving on the team's 30^th place finish a year ago. Lancaster has been in the top two Texans in each of the first three invitationals.
 
Poole turned in a 36^th place finish on Saturday, leading the Texan men. Poole has finished first for the Texans in each of the first three meets. Poole is in his first season with the cross country program after transferring from Texas A&M in the middle of last year.
 
Tarleton will be back in action on October 18^th at the Arturo Barrios Invitational hosted by Texas A&M at the Watts Cross Country Course.