CINCINNATI - Aaron Bienenfeld has been named the American Athletic Conference Male Co-Runner of the Week, the league announced today. The University of Cincinnati senior is coming off his second individual race win in as many competitions this season, taking the top spot in the white race at the 2019 Under Armour NCAA Pre-National Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. Bienenfeld is sharing the accolade this week with Tulsa's Peter Lynch.
// GOING FOR GOLD
Bienenfeld continues to be one of the top runners in the American Athletic Conference as was evident in Indiana. Not only did he win his second race in as many tries this year, he ran away with the title as he won by 41.9 seconds, crossing the finish line in 24:04.5. The individual winner at the Rhodes Invitational (the same course used for this year's AAC meet in two weeks), Bienenfeld is the first Bearcats runner to win two or more races in the same season since Eric Finan won four events during the 2011 season (Queen City Invitational, Commodore Classic, All-Ohio Championships and Big East Championships). Additionally, Bienenfeld's finish betters the third-place showing Finan posted in 2011 with Finan's time (24:04.0) just edging Bienenfeld for the best at the pre-national meet in Terre Haute.
// THIRD AWARD
Following a victorious run in his season debut at the Rhodes Invitational, Bienenfeld earned his second career weekly accolade from the AAC after earning the same award October 2, 2018.
// AWARD HISTORY
With his award this week, Bienenfeld becomes the first UC athlete (male or female) to earn multiple weekly awards in cross country in the same season from the American since the league's beginning in 2013. Last year, Andrew Schille was the first UC runner to earn an AAC weekly award after capturing the title at the Queen City Invitational with Bienenfeld following up one month later with his honor from the AAC. Historically, prior to Schille's honor, the last time a UC runner had been honored came in 2011 when Eric Finan was named the Big East Cross Country Runner of the Week on October 18 after he finished third at the NCAA Pre-National meet.
// NEXT MEET
The Bearcats will return to Memphis, Tenn., and the Shelby Farms Course Friday, November 1, to compete in the 2019 AAC Championships.
Bienenfeld Named AAC Male Co-Runner of the Week
Aaron Bienenfeld has been named the American Athletic Conference Male Co-Runner of the Week, the league announced today.
