Cherono, Kaguako named Apex Collision Center Student-Athletes of Week

Cross country runner Jackline Cherono and soccer player Manuel Kaguako are Apex Collision Center Student-Athletes of the Week.
 
Cherono placed third at the Sooner Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships in Oklahoma City. With a 5k time of 18 minutes, 49 seconds, the sophomore from Kenya crossed the finish line in between teammates Teresha Jacobs in second and Prudence Kiyeng in fourth as the trio was named all-conference and helped the top-ranked Pioneers to a second-place team finish.
 
"My top three girls ran well," coach Brian Whitlock said.
 
Next for the runners will be the NAIA Championships on Nov. 17 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
 
Kaguako, a 5-foot-10 sophomore center-back from Drogheda, Ireland, helped the 13^th-ranked men's soccer team to a 1-0 overtime victory against Southwestern Assemblies of God University in the opening round of the SAC Tournament. James Quinn scored the game-winning goal 3 minutes, 41 seconds into the extra period.
 
Kaguako and the rest of the Pioneer defense allowed just three shots the entire match while recording the team's 11th shutout of the season and sixth in the last eight matches.
 
"Manuel is the most solid defender we have. He doesn't get mentioned a lot because he doesn't score a lot of goals, but he is the best at his job, which is defending. Good defenders don't call the attention that much because their job is to defend and be simple," coach Cristhian Ospina said.
 
The defending national champion Pioneers (13-3), who won three straight SAC regular-season titles and are aiming for a three-peat of SAC Tournament crowns, next host Mid-America Christian in the conference tournament semifinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The winner advances to the finals to be held Friday against the winner between No. 21 USAO and John Brown.