Herrera named Pac-12 Men’s cross country Athlete Of The Year

BOULDER — University of Colorado senior Eduardo Herrera (Madera South) has been named the Pac-12 Conference Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

Herrera picked up the honor, announced by the conference Wednesday, after winning the individual conference title on March 5. He won the 8-kilometer race in 22 minutes, 30.9 seconds and defeated the runner-up by 11 seconds to become the second straight Buffalo male to win the individual crown.

After winning the title, Herrera was named CU’s second USTFCCCA Men’s National Athlete of the Week in cross country on March 6.

In addition to being named the athlete of the year, Herrera was also named to the All-Pac-12 First Team.

All-Pac-12 teams are determined by an athlete’s placing at the Pac-12 Championship. First team members include the first through seventh place finishers, while those who place eighth through 14th earn a position on the second team.

The Buffaloes had six others earn spots on the all-conference teams. Rachel McArthur was the only other Buff to finish in the top-seven to record a first-team honor as she was fifth in the women’s race.

A pair of men, Alec Hornecker (11th) and Austin Vancil (13th), were named to the second team, as well as three women, Madie Boreman (10th), Micaela Degenero (11th) and Abby Nichols (8th).