SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Elon freshman Luis Vargas and junior Morgan Denecke were tabbed as the Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Runners of the Week after their performances in the College of Charleston Invitational last weekend, the league office announced today.
 
Vargas paced Elon to a second-place finish in the CofC Invitational with a time of 25:29 in his first collegiate race. The Angier, N.C., native’s time was good enough for an individual runner-up finish and ranks him fourth on the men’s all-time 8K performance list.
 
Denecke set a new school record at the CofC Invitational with a time of 17:56 to take first in the meet. The Midlothian, Va., native also helped the Phoenix women win the meet title as they claimed each of the top four spots. Denecke’s record time improved her personal best by 44 seconds.
 
Vargas, Denecke and the rest of the men’s and women’s squads will return to action this Saturday, Sept. 17, as they host the third-annual Elon Invitational.