Student-Athlete of the Week presented by GEICO Oct. 29, 2007

After helping his team to its sixth-consecutive Patriot League Championship and repeating as the PL Outstanding Runner of the Meet Saturday, senior cross country runner Brendan Fennell has been named the American University Student-Athlete of the Week presented by GEICO, Department of Athletics and Recreation officials announced Monday.

Fennell completed the rain soaked course in Easton, Pa. in 25:00.00 to beat his closest competitor, teammate Steve Hallinan, by 21 seconds. The two-time individual champion darted from the starting line and challenged the other runners to match his torrid pace but none were able to and Fennell opened an insurmountable lead. Fennell's victory was a repeat of last year's race when he outran the competition and made him only the sixth harrier in PL history to win back-to-back individual crowns. For his performance, Fennell was named both the PL Outstanding Runner of the Meet and First Team All-PL. Fennell's individual victory was also key to AU winning its sixth-consecutive PL Team Championship, a conference record, which moved the squad into a tie with Army and Bucknell for the most team titles in PL history.