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Baclawski, Malpigli Earn ECAC Player of the Week Award
American cross country notches first honors of the season

Oct. 19, 2001

WASHINGTON — American University sophomores Jen Baclawski (Ijamsville, Md./Urbana) and Frank Malpigli (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) were honored by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) today as cross country Players of the Week after both were the top collegiate runners at the Maryland Invitational last weekend.

Baclawski led the way for the Eagles at Maryland, covering the 5,000-meter course in 18:45.45. She finished 50 seconds in front of the second collegiate runner. Baclawski also finished as the first collegeiate runner the previous week at the George Mason Fall Classic. She has not finished outside the top 10 in any race this season.

Malpigli, who shared the weekly award with James Rodriguez of the University at Albany, won the Maryland Invitational in a time 26:01.02 for the 8,000-meter race. Malpigli was 15 seconds in front of the second-place runner. In every race this season, Malpigli has been under 26:10 and finished in the top 15.

Baclawski and Malpigli are preparing to lead the Eagles into the Patriot League Championships Oct. 27 at 11:00 a.m. in Hamilton, N.Y. Both athletes are expected to finish among the Patriot League’s elite.