Clay Peets making history for St. Bonaventure

ALLEGANY, N.Y. (WHEC) — Clay Peets has welcomed himself to St. Bonaventure right away.

The freshman cross country runner has already taken home Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week three times, something no Bonnie has ever done.

In his first official meet with the team, the Akron, Ohio native ran the second-fastest 5k in school history at the Little Three Championship, crossing the finish line with a 15:42:79. It was good for secnd place in the event.

More recently, Peets ran a 26:16 at the Anderson Invitational, finishing 12th out of 200 runners. It’s the fourth-fastest 8k in school history.

Heading in, he didn’t know much about the weekly honors but after winning the first one, he wanted to keep it going.

"Even after I got the first one, I realized that like, every weekend that I run, I want to be one of the top freshmen in the A10," Peets said. "Every time I want to go out there, I always compare myself after the meet to other kids in my class because most likely down the line when you’re a junior and senior when it really counts, those are going to be the same kids. Instead of maybe, middle of the front of the pack, they’re going to be right there in the front."