MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama cross country runner Warno Potgieter was named the Sun Belt Conference men's runner of the week on Tuesday as announced by the league office.

The honor marks the first of Potgieter's career as well as the first time a Jaguar male cross country runner has received the Sun Belt weekly accolade since Christoph Graph did so on Sept. 16, 2015.

Competing in just his second cross country race and his first 8k as a Jaguar, Potgieter placed second Saturday in the Blue Division at the Greater Louisville Classic held at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park and hosted by the Louisville Sports Commission.  

Potgieter was just eight seconds behind Memphis' Julian Sanchez-Pinto to place second with a time of 25:13.54, and was one of three Jags to record a top 10 finish helping South Alabama tie the Tigers for top team honors among the Division I teams in the field.  The win marked the first meet win for the Jaguar men since the 2015 season.

South Alabama will next compete on Friday, Oct. 13 at the Crimson Classic hosted by Alabama at the Harry Pritchett Running Course located adjacent to the UA Arboretum.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Finish Line Club, the track and field and cross country specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  All donations to the Finish Line Club go directly to support the South Alabama track and field/cross country programs.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/finishlineclub.

—USA—