M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week (October 9)
NEW ORLEANS – Keep feeding us amazing cross country.
Here are our M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week in collegiate cross country for October 9, 2023!
- NCAA Division I Men – Ben Fleischer, Rhode Island
- NCAA Division I Women – Ellie Tymorek, Dartmouth
- NCAA Division II Men – Matthew Storer, Colorado Christian
- NCAA Division II Women – Lindsay Cunningham, Winona State
- NCAA Division III Men – Simon Heys, Wilmington (Ohio)
- NCAA Division III Women – Genna Girard, Williams
- NAIA Men – Will Stockley, Milligan (Tenn.)
- NAIA Women – Addi Dewey, Indiana Wesleyan
- NJCAA Division I Men – Lawson Beymer, Garden City (Kan.) CC
- NJCAA Division I Women – Elizabeth Phillips, Southern Idaho
- NJCAA Division II Men – Matt Padilla, Heartland (Ill.) CC
- NJCAA Division II Women – Ava LaMilza, Macomb (Mich.) CC
- NJCAA Division III Men – Omar Mohamed, Mohawk Valley (N.Y.) CC
- NJCAA Division III Women – Kimiko Quayle, FIT (N.Y.)
Find out more about each of these athletes by scrolling below.
National Athlete of the Week is an award selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff at the beginning of each week to 14 collegiate cross country athletes, when applicable (male and female for each of the three NCAA divisions, the NAIA and the NJCAA).
Nominations are open to the public. Coaches and sports information directors are encouraged to nominate their student-athletes; as are student-athletes, their families and friends, and fans of their programs. Nominated athletes are noticed before those athletes found through searching TFRRS.
The award seeks to highlight not only the very best times, marks and scores on a week-to-week basis, but also performances that were significant on the national landscape and/or the latest in a series of strong outings. Quality of competition, suspenseful finishes and other factors will also play a role in the decision.
NCAA DIVISION I MEN – Ben Fleischer, Rhode Island
Grad Student | Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Racing against NEICAAA competition agrees with Ben Fleischer.
Fleischer captured the individual title at the NEICAAA Cross Country Championships this past weekend at Franklin Park. The Rhodes Island standout covered the 8k course in 24:45.7, more than 30 seconds faster than the runner-up and continued stringing together strong efforts on that fabled grass circuit (Fleischer set a course PR two weeks ago at the Battle in Beantown).
Dating back to 2022, Fleischer has three individual titles from NEICAAA Championships between cross country and track & field. Both of his previous titles came indoors: Fleischer snagged 3000-meter glory in 2022 and added the 5000-meter version to his haul in 2023.
This is the first time in program history that an athlete from Rhodes Island has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Ellie Tymorek, Dartmouth
Junior | Boca Raton, Florida
Ellie Tymorek took the lead and never looked back.
Tymorek opened a sizeable gap at the 1.5k split of the NEICAAA Cross Country Championships this past weekend at Franklin Park and didn’t let up. The Dartmouth standout eventually won by 20.1 seconds in 18:04.8. That marked a PR on the fabled Franklin Park 5k grass circuit.
It had been a while since Tymorek topped the podium. She previously won in her collegiate debut at the 2021 Maribel Sanchez-Souther Invitational and led the Big Green to the team title.
This is the second time in program history that a female athlete from Dartmouth has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Tymorek joins Abbey D’Agostino in that regard (D’Agostino earned national weekly honors in 2013).
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Matthew Storer, Colorado Christian
Sophomore | Colorado Spings, Colorado
It was only a matter of time before Matthew Storer engraved his name in the history books.
The Cougar emerged victorious at the Lewis Crossover this weekend, tearing through the 8k course in 23:46.7. Colorado Christian’s front runner was left to fend off a relentless push from a duo of 2022 All-Americans in Duncan Fuehne of Colorado School of Mines and Ransom Allen Wayne State (Mich.). Yet, once the finishing chute appeared on the horizon, a kick into high gear left his competitors in the dust.
A monumental October victory bodes well for a true title run this go around after Storer posted a 17th place finish at the 2022 DII Championships to his resume last fall.
This is the first time in program history that an athlete from Colorado Christian has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Linsday Cunningham, Winona State
Senior | Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
At this point Lindsay Cunningham needs no introduction.
The Winona State standout continued her junior campaign with another win, this time at the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois. Her 6k time of 20:06.8 trounced the rest of the field by 54 seconds… no, that is not a mistake. Cunningham transcended any notions that she could be caught, beating Klaudia O’Malley from Grand Valley State who finished third at the 2022 DII Championships.
There have only been two points in an already illustrious career where Cunningham has run faster: the 2022 Bob Waxlax Invitational and the 2022 Central Region Championship. There’s a possibility that the best is yet to come as both races from above transpired in the second half of last season.
This is the second time this season that Cunningham has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week. Cunningham previously earned national weekly honors on September 12.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Simon Heys, Wilmington (Ohio)
Senior | Wilmington, Ohio
Simon Heys made a statement this past weekend.
Heys proved himself to be a contender for the individual national title come November with a winning effort at the NCAA DIII Pre-Nationals Invitational in Newville, Pennsylvania. He traversed the challenging 8k course in 24:46.1 and beat reigning M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week John Lucey of Williams by 1.4 seconds.
The Wilmington (Ohio) standout has two victories on the season with his first coming in his season opener at the Franklin College Grizzly XC Invitational. Last year on the track, Heys PR’d in everything from the 1500 meters (3:52.04) to the 10,000 meters (29:12.62). Heys used the latter of which to finish fourth at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships in May.
This is the first time in program history that an athlete from Wilmington (Ohio) has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Genna Girard, Williams
Senior | Natick, Massachusetts
Once Genna Girard made her move, it was over.
Girard broke away from the talented field at the NCAA DIII Pre-Nationals Invitational this past weekend and won by nearly 15 seconds. The runner-up was Natalie Bitetti, who finished 16th at the NCAA Championships last year and had two strong efforts her belt already this season.
It has been a breakthrough season for Girard so far. Just two weeks ago, Girard captured top individual honors at the Purple Valley XC Classic in resounding fashion, winning by 48 seconds.
This is just the second time in program history that a female athlete from Williams has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Girard joins Lacey Serletti in that regard (Serletti earned national weekly honors on September 28, 2015).
NAIA MEN – Will Stockley, Milligan (Tenn.)
Grad Student | Twickenham, United Kingdom
Will Stockley has been Mr. Consistent.
That finally paid off with his first collegiate cross country win.
Stockley cruised to the individual crown at the Royals Challenge this past weekend. He galloped across the 8k course in 24:30.2, more than five seconds faster than the runner-up and more than eight seconds faster than the next fastest collegian, teammate Aaron Jones. Stockley also notched a head-to-head win over former M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week Cornelius Kipkogei of Cumberlands (Ky.) and led Milligan (Tenn.) to the team title.
Over the past two years, Stockley has finished no worse than 15th on the grass circuit (or ninth, if you remove meets including NCAA DI competition). Stockley finished ninth at the 2022 NAIA Cross Country Championships and was an integral part of the Buffs’ runner-up placement.
This is the first time in program history that a male athlete from Milligan (Tenn.) has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NAIA WOMEN – Addi Dewey, Indiana Wesleyan
Sophomore | Marion, Indiana
Addi Dewey is ready to make a name for herself.
Dewey, who finished 39th at the NAIA Championships last year, could truly improve upon that come November based off efforts like she turned in this past weekend at the Bethel Cross Country Invitational. The Indiana Wesleyan sophomore crossed the finish line first in 18:41.8, less than three seconds faster than teammate Elizabeth Barrett. With Dewey and Barrett at the front of the pack, the Wildcats held off a strong challenge from Grace (Ind.) for the team title.
This is the first time in program history that a female athlete from Indiana Wesleyan has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Lawson Beymer, Garden City (Kan.) CC
Freshman | Lakin, Kansas
Lawson Beymer raced impressively at the McPherson Carol Swenson Invitational, finishing fourth as the leading NJCAA runner in 25:14.1 for 8k. He was 53.6 seconds ahead of the next best JUCO runner in the field.
This is the second time that a male athlete from Garden City has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Beymer joins Dennis Mutai (2021) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Elizabeth Phillips, Southern Idaho
Sophomore | Garland, Utah
Victory is always nice, but it’s never as sweet as your first one.
Elizabeth Phillips nabbed her first collegiate cross country race, winning the Steve Reeder Memorial in 18:22.4 for 5k to finish 1.3 seconds ahead of Malia Lowe of the NCAA DI host Utah State. Phillips is the leading returner from last year’s College of Southern Idaho squad that won the NJCAA Division I Championships.
This is the third time that a female athlete from CSI has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Phillips joins Natalya Babcock (2021) and Maura Williams (2020) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II MEN – Matt Padilla, Heartland (Ill.) CC
Freshman | Oswego, Illinois
Matt Padilla evened the score with his teammate.
Padilla was the leading NJCAA runner at the UAH Chargers Invitational, covering the 8k course in Huntsville, Alabama – site of the upcoming NJCAA Division II Championships – in 25:17.5. That also made Padilla the top man for No. 5 Heartland (Ill.) CC, beating last week’s M-F National Athlete of the Week Ben Huey. In four races this year, they are now 2-2 head-to-head.
This is the second time that a male athlete from Heartland has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Padilla joins Huey in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Ava LaMilza, Macomb (Mich.) CC
Freshman | Macomb, Michigan
Traveling out of state didn’t affect Ava LaMilza at all.
In her first collegiate race outside of Michigan, LaMilza ran 11th as the top JUCO finisher in the Bill Lennox Invitational at Slippery Rock in New Castle, Pennsylvania. LaMilza covered the 6k course in 23:13.8, more than 3 minutes ahead of the next JUCO runner.
This is the first time that a female or male athlete from Macomb (Mich.) CC has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NJCAA DIVISION III MEN – Omar Mohamed, Mohawk Valley (N.Y.) CC
Sophomore | Utica, New York
Omar Mohamed finished seventh as the top JUCO runner at the Houghton Highlander Invitational, covering the 8k course in 25:46.6 to beat the next JUCO athlete by more than three minutes. It’s the fourth time in four races this fall that Mohamed has outdistanced all of his JUCO competition.
This is the fifth time that a male athlete from Mohawk Valley (N.Y.) CC has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Mohamed joins Zakaria Djouma (four times in 2015) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Kimiko Quayle, FIT (N.Y.)
Sophomore | Demarest, New Jersey
Kimiko Quayle finished 17th as the top JUCO athlete among 220 runners at the NJIT Highlander Invitational. Quayle was timed in 19:43.8, putting 1:40.3 ahead of the nearest JUCO competitor.
This is the second time that a female athlete from FIT (N.Y.) has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Quayle joins Shannen Gallardo (2015) in that regard.