Kyril Van Schendel Repeats as SCIAC Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Sophomore Kyril Van Schendel captured the SCIAC Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week Award for the second week in a row for events through Sept. 22, the league office announced today.

Van Schendel earned the honor after leading CMS to a dominant performance at the Coyote Challenge, hosted by CSU San Bernardino on Saturday. The Stags won the team championship with 16 points, just one more than the minimum, after finishing with the top four runners and six of the top seven, 

Van Schendel edged out his teammates for the Coyote Challenge individual championship, crossing the line in 24:11.54, less than a second ahead of second-place Thomas D'Anieri, who finished in 24:12.33. Just two seconds behind D'Anieri was junior Stevie Steinberg in third place in 24:14.33, while sophomore Miles Christensen came in fourth in 24:21.88. 

Steinberg was named the SCIAC Athlete of the Week on Sept. 9, after coming in fifth place at the Biola Invitational to help CMS to a strong third-place finish. Van Schendel's two straight awards now gives CMS the first three SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors in the three weeks in which it competed. 

The Stags, who are ranked No. 6 in the nation in Division III, will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Santa Clarita to take part in The Master's Invitational.