VALDOSTA, Ga. – Following another record-setting performance at the Florida State Invitational, Valdosta State women's cross country senior Angie Cipriani and junior men's cross country standout Brishen House were named the Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athletes of the Week.
 
This is the second honor of the season for each as Cipriani finished 11^th overall with a final time of 18:19.7, marking a 30-second improvement over her previous personal best for a 5K.  Cipriani ran against almost an entire Division I field, including the likes of LSU, South Carolina, South Alabama, Florida State and more.  She was the top finisher in the race among Division II schools as Flagler also was in the meet.
 
On the men's side, House finished ninth overall and fourth among Division II runners with a final time of 25:52.5, marking the second fastest finish for a VSU men's runner since 2014.  VSU improved on its season average by cutting its time down by 42 seconds, finishing with an average of 27:00.5.  It also marked the fastest team average since 2014.  
 
The Blazer men's cross country team currently sits fifth in the Division II Men's Cross Country Rankings for the Gulf South Conference.  The Blazers haven't been ranked in the top five of the GSC since 2014, a season where the team finished in the top five in all but two races.  In a strong comparison to the 2014 season, the 2020 edition of the Blazer men's cross country team has finished both races in the top five.
 
Both teams return to the course at the UAB Blazer Classic Oct. 16 in Hoover, Ala., at Veterans Park to conclude the regular season.  The GSC Championship is set for Oct. 31 in Huntsville, Ala.