KELOWNA, B.C. – Two members of the UBCO Heat were recognized by the Canada West conference on Tuesday as women's cross country runner Lauren McNeil and men's golfer Ryan Vest were named Players of the Week in their respective sports.
 
They become the second and third Heat athletes to earn the recognition this season after women's golfer Julia Alexander-Carew was honoured last week.
 
Women's Cross Country - Lauren McNeil (UBCO Heat)
Oct. 4 - 1st Place - Western Canadian Challenge - 27:33
 
Lauren McNeil picked up where she left off last season as she won her first race against university competition this year, winning the Western Canadian Invitational on Saturday morning.
 
McNeil, the reigning U SPORTS Champion, posted a time of 27 minutes and 33 seconds on the eight-kilometer course, over a minute and a half ahead of second-place Marisha Thompson from the Victoria Vikes. The win marks the third time in the last four meets McNeil has won gold for UBCO dating back to last season.
 
Men's Golf - Ryan Vest (UBCO Heat)
Tied for 1st place at Western Washington Invitational / 7-under par
 
Ryan Vest once again led the Heat at their second NCAA Division II event of the season, the Western Washington Invitational, as he tied for first-place in the individual standings to help UBCO finish 2nd overall in the team standings.
 
The Vernon native, playing on a familiar course after suiting up for the Western Washington Vikings for a year, finished the three-round tournament at seven-under par 209, leaving him in a four-way tie for first place. Although Vest would lose out in a playoff, it marked the second consecutive tournament he's finished inside the top two on the individual leaderboard.