M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week (October 21)
NEW ORLEANS – They are fast!
Here are our M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week for October 21.
- co-NCAA Division I Men – Habtom Samuel, New Mexico
- co-NCAA Division I Men – Solomon Kipchoge, Texas Tech
- co-NCAA Division I Women – Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico
- co-NCAA Division I Women – Juliet Cherubet, Texas Tech
- NCAA Division II Men – Scott Nutter, Wingate
- NCAA Division II Women – Mallorie Metzger, Maryville (Mo.)
- NCAA Division III Men – Christian Patzka, UW-Whitewater
- NCAA Division III Women – Isabel Olson, Colorado College
- NAIA Men – Evert Silva, Oklahoma City
- NAIA Women – Hannah Fredericks, The Master’s (Calif.)
- NJCAA Division I Men – Sam Gilson, Central Arizona
- NJCAA Division I Women – Barbara Neiva, Iowa Western CC
- NJCAA Division II Men – Jackson Bland, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
- NJCAA Division II Women – Karen Kiratu, Southeast (Neb.) CC
- NJCAA Division III Men – Kevin Diederich, DuPage (Ill.)
- NJCAA Division III Women – Gabriela Zid, Joliet (Ill.) JC
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.
Co-NCAA DIVISION I MEN – Habtom Samuel, New Mexico
Sophomore | Keren, Eritrea
Course records don’t last long these days.
Not with Habtom Samuel running, anyway.
Samuel galloped to victory this past weekend at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals in 22:38.8, lopping nearly 25 seconds off the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course all-time best. It was a quick race from the onset, as the top-10 athletes all went sub-11:24 for the first 4k. Then, at the finish, the top-9 athletes all dipped under the former course record of 23:05 set by Parker Wolfe of North Carolina just one month earlier at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational.
This is the first time in program history that a male athlete from New Mexico has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
Co-NCAA DIVISION I MEN – Solomon Kipchoge, Texas Tech
Freshman | Kapsabet, Kenya
22:01.4.
Read that again: 22:01.4.
That’s what Solomon Kipchoge clocked over the 8k distance this past weekend to win the individual title at the Arturo Barrios Invitational. As of this writing, Kipchoge now has the fastest 8k in the nation from a race that four of the top-8 marks were recorded this season, according to AthleticNET.
The Kenyan freshman isn’t a stranger to fast marks. Earlier this season, Kipchoge nearly went sub-14 minutes over the 5k distance in his collegiate debut at the Lori Fitzgerald Classic.
This is the second time this season – and fourth time overall – that a male athlete from Texas Tech has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Kipchoge joins teammate Ernest Cheruiyot and former NCAA champion Kennedy Kithuka in that regard (Kithuka earned national weekly honors twice in 2013).
Co-NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico
Freshman | Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya
Pamela Kosgei is good at cross country.
After all, Kosgei earned the bronze medal at the 2023 World U20 Cross Country Championships.
Now, Kosgei is showing that prowess on the U.S. collegiate scene.
Kosgei romped to victory at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals this past weekend, covering the 6k tract at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course in 18:59.1 – and, in turn, destroying a course record formerly held by six-time NCAA champion Parker Valby. The New Mexico freshman was lockstep with both Hilda Olemomoi of Florida and Caroline Jeptanui of Tulane at the 4k split before pulling away over the final 2k to win by 3.9 seconds.
This is the seventh time in program history that a female athlete from New Mexico has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week. Kogsei joins three-time honoree Weini Kelati, two-time honoree Ednah Kurgat and one-time honoree Charlotte Arter in that regard.
Co-NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Juliet Cherubet, Texas Tech
Sophomore | Eldoret, Kenya
Juliet Cherubet couldn’t be caught at the Arturo Barrios Invitational this past weekend.
Cherbuet, who eventually won by more than 20 seconds, traversed the 6k tract at the Dale Watts ’71 XC Course in a ridiculous 18:37.0. That is the fastest collegiate 6k time this season by 11.2 seconds, according to data compiled by AthleticNET. Just how fast was the meet, though? Five of the top-10 performers on the seasonal chart came from College Station, Texas.
This is the first time in program history that a female athlete from Texas Tech has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Scott Nutter, Wingate
Senior | Blencogo, United Kingdom
Scott Nutter made sure the trip to Panorama Farms was well worth it.
In a race where Wingate was the only non-Division I program in attendance, the senior recorded a 23:32 8k, good enough for ninth overall. Nutter was just five seconds away from a top-5 finish, surrounded by the likes of athletes from NCAA DI No. 6 Wake Forest and No. 21 Virginia.
This isn’t the first time the Bulldogs competed against ranked NCAA DI programs. Two weeks earlier, the team was invited to the Gold Race at the Paul Short Invitational. Just as Hamza Chahid did there, Nutter hung with the best of them, leading Wingate to a fourth-place finish.
This marks the first time in program history that a male athlete from Wingate has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Mallorie Metzger, Maryville (Mo.)
Sophomore | Jackson, Missouri
All-state wrestler to cross country champion.
Mallorie Metzger pinned the competition at the Mikayla Sherrill Fall Classic, taking the win in 18:39.3, 12 seconds ahead of the field.
Since Maryville (Mo.) doesn’t offer wrestling – one of Metzger’s three high school sports – her focus transitioned solely to running as she entered the collegiate scene. The sophomore Saint was rewarded with her first win on the grass circuit this season.
This marks the first time in program history that an athlete from Maryville (Mo.) has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Christian Patzka, UW-Whitewater
Senior | Black Earth, Wisconsin
Don’t forget about Christian Patzka.
How could we, though? He finished runner-up at the NCAA Championships last year and won three NCAA titles on the track.
Patzka reminded everybody why he should be considered a favorite in 2024 with an emphatic victory this past weekend at the Augustana (Ill.) Interregional Invitational. The UW-Whitewater senior made a big move over the final 2k to win by more than seven seconds in 23:52.7. In fact, Patzka trailed then-leader Isaiah Hammerand of Wartburg by ten seconds at that point.
This is the fourth time in the past two years that Patzka has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Patzka previously earned national weekly honors three times in 2023 – all in October (October 2, October 16 and October 30).
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Isabel Olson, Colorado College
Senior | Middlebury, Vermont
Isabel Olson and Colorado College wanted to prove themselves at the Augustana (Ill.) Interregional Invitational.
Olson took top individual honors in 21:07.1, a mark that gave her the win by nearly ten seconds over Paige Anderson of Kalamazoo. With that ultimate low stick, the second-ranked Tigers made quick work of the team race, posting a 50-point victory over Washington (Mo.) and an otherwise loaded field.
This is the first time in program history that a female athlete from Colorado College has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country.
NAIA MEN – Evert Silva, Oklahoma City
Junior | Fresno, California
If you’re looking for a favorite to win the NAIA cross country title this year, it’s Evert Silva.
For the second time this season, Silva proved to be the division’s premier athlete. Silva went to the Arturo Barrios Invitational this past weekend and clocked an otherworldly 22:25.9 over the 8k distance to place third as the top NAIA finisher. That mark is the fastest of the season turned in by an NAIA athlete, according to data from AthleticNET – and is on top by more than one minute.
As you can surmise, Silva is now a two-time M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week. Silva previously earned national weekly honors on September 30.
NAIA WOMEN – Hannah Fredericks, The Master’s (Calif.)
Senior | Santa Clarita, California
Welcome back, Hannah Fredericks.
The Master’s (Calif.) standout returns as M-F National Athlete of the Week for the third time this season. This time, Fredericks took runner-up honors – and was the top NAIA finisher – at the UC Riverside Highlander Invitational in a season-best 20:34.3.
Fredericks is well-positioned to improve on her tenth-place finish at the NAIA Cross Country Championships last year.
NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Sam Gilson, Central Arizona
Sophomore | England
Sam Gilson wasn’t Central Arizona’s top runner at the beginning of the year, but he is now.
Gilson paced the Vaqueros in two straight meets, with their trek up north to the Linfield George Oja Invitational in Salem, Oregon, the most recent evidence. Gilson finished ninth as the race’s top JUCO runner, covering 8K in 24:31.8.
It’s the second race in a row that Gilson has led the Vaqueros, twice topping teammate Japhet Kiprono, who won CAC’s CAMPY Invitational two weeks ago in a race that Gilson didn’t start.
This is the seventh time that a male athlete from Central Arizona has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Gilson joins Japhet Kiprono (earlier this year), Jesus Aldana (2018) and Gilbert Kigen (twice in both 2016 and 2015) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Barbara Neiva, Iowa Western CC
Sophomore | Setubal, Portugal
In her first race in three weeks, Barbara Neiva showed no signs of rust.
Neiva finished 12th in the White Race at the Bradley Pink Classic, covering 6k in 22:21.7 to easily claim top honors among JUCO athletes. It’s the third time this season she’s been the top runner from a two-year program, joining the Gans Creek Classic and Augie Twilight in September.
Neiva was seventh in last year’s NJCAA DI Cross Country Championships.
This is the 13th time that a female athlete from Iowa Western has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Neiva joins Silvia Gradizzi (2023), Mercy Biwott (once in 2022 and twice in 2021), Faith Linga (four times in 2020 and three times in 2019), Shanieke Watson (2016) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II MEN – Jackson Bland, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
Sophomore | Surprise, Arizona
Jackson Bland ventured into the Great Lakes area for a second year in a row – a healthy distance for he and his No. 3-ranked Pumas based in Arizona
As he’s done all year, Bland was again impressively better than last year, taking 14th place as the leading JUCO runner in the Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational, covering 8k in 25:33.0.
Bland was 13.4 seconds faster than on the same course last year. Seven of those ahead of him are part of the NCAA DIII No. 1 UW-La Crosse squad.
This is the third time that a male athlete from Paradise Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Bland earned the honor earlier this year in joining Gilbert Olivas (2022) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Karen Kiratu, Southeast (Neb.) CC
Sophomore | Lincoln, Nebraska
Karen Kiratu is much faster than she was in finishing 13th in last year’s NJCAA DII Cross Country Championships.
How much faster? Most recently the difference was 1:37.9 as she was runner-up in the Platte River Rumble Collegiate, covering 6k in 22:13.7 compared to 23:51.6 last year.
In her two earlier races on the same course from last year, Kiratu has improved by 2:15.5 and 2:27.0 at the Briar Cliff Invitational and Augie Twilight. She won the Briar Cliff race this year by 36.9 seconds.
This is the second time that a female or male athlete from Southeast (Neb.) CC has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country, as Kiratu was also honored earlier this year.
NJCAA DIVISION III MEN – Kevin Diederich, College of DuPage (Ill.)
Sophomore | Elmhurst, Illinois
The Bradley Pink Classic provided a great matchup of multi-time winners this year of the M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in NJCAA DIII.
In terms of NAOW honors, Kevin Diederich evened the score with Owen Whelan of Harper (Ill.) as both now have three apiece, Diederich gaining his latest by virtue of being the top JUCO runner in covering 8k in 25:56.2 in the White Race, 30.5 seconds ahead of Whelan.
The battle didn’t end there for Diederich’s NJCAA DIII No. 1 Chaps and the No. 2-ranked Harper Hawks. In a race among predominantly four-year programs, DuPage finished ninth ahead of 11th-place Harper, 237-253. But it was even closer than that, as head-to-head scoring in a dual meet had them knotted at 28 points, with DuPage earning the tiebreaker.
This is the sixth time that a male athlete from DuPage has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Diederich has earned the honor twice earlier this year in joining Nicholas Keeling (three times in 2022) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Gabriela Zid, Joliet (Ill.) JC
Freshman | Minooka, Illinois
In arguably her best performance of the year, Gabriela Zid ran a PR at the Greenville Classic.
It was the fourth PR in five races this fall for Zid, who finished fourth in 20:09.2 for 5k as the top JUCO runner behind three NCAA DIII athletes.
Zid has led the No. 5-ranked Wolves all year as she has improved her 5k best by 59.0 seconds since the beginning of the season. This is the eighth time that a female athlete from Joliet has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Zid joins Tiffany Lehmann (twice in 2021 and five times in 2020) in that regard.