Aifuwa Earns CACC Runner of the Week Award

Philadelphia (September 26, 2005) -For the third time this season, University of the Sciences cross country runner Joy Aifuwa (Edison High School/Edison, NJ) has earned the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Runner of the Week honors.

In her third race of the season, Aifuwa took first place honors at The Philadelphia Metro Small College Championship at Belmont Plateau on Saturday, September 24, 2005. Running in fifth place after the first mile, Aifuwa took control of the race in the woods and cruised to a 28-second win over Meredith Janeczek of Franklin and Marshall and 131 other runners to capture her first ever Philadelphia Metro Championship title. The win is her second win of the season, having won at Delaware Valley to open the season on September 3, 2005.

Aifuwa, a sophomore pharmacy major, set a personal best in completing the 5,000-meter course at Belmont in 19:34.62, the third fastest time ever run at the meet since the course changed to a 5K in 1989. Aifuwa becomes the first runner from USP in the 26-year history of the race to win the individual title and just the second USP runner to break the 20-minute mark at Belmont since 1989.

Aifuwa's performance helped lead the Devils to a fifth place finish with 138 points. USP was just six points behind CACC rival and defending conference champion Georgian Court University (132 points). Franklin and Marshall won the team trophy with 34 points while Marywood University was second with 74 points and Felician College third with 125 points.

The former Edison High School athlete is in her second season of competition for the Devils. As a freshman she earned Runner of the Weeks honors twice and finished 2nd at the 2004 CACC Championships earning All Conference and Newcomer of the Year honors.

The Devils will return to the friendly confines of Belmont Plateau on October 1, 2005 when they compete in the Belmont Classic, hosted by Cabrini College.