Wednesday, September 06, 2006

MACON, Ga. -- With a top finish in his first collegiate race over the weekend, Belmont's Collin Magut was named Atlantic Sun Athlete of the Week today by the Conference office. At the 2006 Belmont Opener, Magut won the 5K individual title in a time of 15:01.09 in a field of 100 runners.

His finish helped the Bruins dominate the field and win the men's team championship, beating Vanderbilt by 31 points and third place Western Kentucky by 69 points. The sophomore was one of five top-10 finishers for the Bruins.

Magut, a native of Kitale, Kenya, is also a member of the track & field team. At the A-Sun Outdoor Track & Field Championships last season, he earned first-team All-Atlantic Sun honors and was selected as the Outstanding Track Performer of the meet. This is his second career Athlete of the Week honor. Magut is majoring in marketing.

Belmont will be back in action Friday, Sept. 15 at the Tennessee Invitational.

The Atlantic Sun Conference announces the Athlete of the Week every Wednesday during the 2006 cross country season.

The 10-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., includes Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Florida and Stetson, with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate to compete in 2007.