IRVINE, Calif. – After posting historic performances at the Coyote Challenge, both Concordia cross country teams were selected as the PacWest Teams of the Week along with Biola.

True freshman Noah Plaza also won the men's 8K race and shared PacWest Runner of the Week honors with Biola's Benjamin White.  In his collegiate debut after graduating from Williams Field High School, Plaza was part of a convocation of Golden Eagles that led the majority of the race and ultimately cemented the first team win for the CUI men in the program's NCAA DII era.  An Arizona native, Plaza narrowly finished ahead of teammate and CUI captain Juan Sebastian Garcia - who turned in a career performance of his own and took second.

Seven of the first 11 runners to cross the finish line in the men's 8k wore CUI on their chest.

In addition, returner Jori Paradis finished in second place in the women's 5K that morning and was named PacWest Runner of the Week on the women's side along with Biola's Lynette Ruiz.

It was the second time Paradis has finished second overall in her stellar career at Concordia.  The Silverton High School alum and Oregon native zoomed across the finish line in 18 minutes, 26 seconds which was just two seconds behind the winner. 

Her efforts helped set the tone for the CUI women to win their first race as a team since 2009.  CUI teammates Maddie Jahshan, Sara Feitz and Porshe Eismann also finished in the top five right behind Paradis.

The Golden Eagles look to build off this momentum with their next race this Saturday, Sept. 17 at the UCR Invite out in Riverside.

CLICK HERE for the full CUI women's cross country schedule

CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's cross country schedule