M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week (Sept. 15, 2025)
NEW ORLEANS – Cross country is off and running.
Here are our M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week for September 15.
- NCAA Division I Men – Evans Kurui, Washington State
- NCAA Division I Women – Caren Kiplagat, Alabama
- NCAA Division II Men – Mario Giannini, Chico State
- NCAA Division II Women – Maddie Reeves, Point Loma Nazarene
- NCAA Division III Men – Emmanuel Leblond, Johns Hopkins
- NCAA Division III Women – Adriana Crabtree, Illinois Wesleyan
- NAIA Men – Brogan Collins, The Master’s (Calif.)
- NAIA Women – Heather Murphy, Montreat (N.C.)
- NJCAA Division I Men – Amantle Modingwane, Ranger (Texas)
- NJCAA Division I Women – Milicent Wafula, Odessa (Texas)
- NJCAA Division II Men – Brady Eagar, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
- NJCAA Division II Women – Olivia Baker, Mesa (Ariz.) CC
- NJCAA Division III Men – Sebastian Welc, Harper (Ill.)
- NJCAA Division III Women – Emily Marriott, Mineral Area (Mo.)
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 – Evans Kurui, Washington State
Sophomore | Eldoret, Kenya
Stop us if you heard this before: Evans Kurui is fast.
Two weeks after setting a 6k PR on the grass circuit, Kurui did the same over the 8k distance and bettered his own blistering course record in the process – by 20 seconds. Kirui romped to victory at the Cougar Classic in 22:22.1, beating teammate and Texas Tech transfer Solomon Kipchoge.
The Washington State sophomore has been nothing short of sensational in cross country, winning six of the eight meets in which he competed, including four as a freshman last year.
This is the second year in a row that Kurui has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Caren Kiplagat, Alabama
Freshman | Eldoret, Kenya
Welcome to the national conversation, Caren Kiplagat.
The Alabama freshman cruised to a win at the Southern Showcase this past weekend, traversing the 5k course in 16:18.8. That was Kiplagat’s collegiate debut for the Crimson Tide.
This is the fourth time in the past five years that an Alabama female athlete has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Kiplagat joins two-time honoree Doris Lemngole and 2021 honoree Mercy Chelangat in that regard.
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Mario Giannini, Chico State
Junior | Chico, California
How about some love for the west?
Mario Giannini put together quite a performance at the Kim Duyst Invitational on Saturday, posting 23:31 across 8k. The Chico State junior muscled out a runner-up finish with a lean at the line to get Donavan Cheruiyot of UC Davis by two-tenths of a second. A common occurrence in track; a spectacle in cross country.
The only soul Giannini couldn’t hang onto was Justin Petre of California, who crossed the line in 23:14.3. California was one of eight NCAA DI programs that the wildcats were tasked with taking down.
This marks the second time that a male athlete from Chico State has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Giannini joins Kyle Medina, who recorded the honors on September 18, 2017.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Maddie Reeves, Point Loma Nazarene
Senior | Peoria, Arizona
Point Loma Nazarene is on the rise. They have Maddie Reeves to thank.
Having run a personal best 20:48.8 over 6k, the senior walked away from the CSU San Marcos Cougar Challenge with the added bonus of being Point Loma Nazarene’s first individual winner since 2019. Reeves’ effort gave way to a thrilling team race that saw the Sea Lions come within five points of upsetting No. 27 Cal Poly Pomona.
It doesn’t take much digging to figure out the 2024 All-West Region honoree is no stranger to this meet. Beginning her freshman year, Reeves registered times at the course on four occasions, with the final one yielding her first ever collegiate victory.
This marks the first time an athlete from Point Loma Nazarene has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Emmanuel Leblond, Johns Hopkins
Senior | Mountain View, California
Emmanuel Leblond rose to the occasion at the Virginia Invitational.
The Johns Hopkins standout clocked 23:58.8 for 8k to finish a decisive third on the demanding Panorama Farms course, trailing only two NCAA DI Virginia runners. Leblond’s effort, nearly 26 seconds clear of fourth place, propelled the NCAA DIII No. 4 Blue Jays to a runner-up finish behind the host Cavaliers, who are ranked No. 6 in the NCAA DI National Coaches’ Poll.
This is the first time in program history that a male athlete from Johns Hopkins has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Adriana Crabtree, Illinois Wesleyan
Senior | Normal, Illinois
Division doesn’t matter when you’re fast.
Adriana Crabtree dominated at the Redbird Invitational this past weekend, tearing through a primarily NCAA DI field by nearly ten seconds in 21:32.3. Illinois State’s Nora Brady – sixth at the Fighting Illini Open two weeks ago – was her closest challenger. No other NCAA DIII athlete was within 50 seconds of Crabtree.
This is the first time in program history that an athlete from Illinois Wesleyan has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NAIA MEN – Brogan Collins, The Master’s (Calif.)
Freshman | Colorado Springs, Colorado
The Master’s (Calif.) might have a freshman leading the charge in 2025.
Brogan Collins impressed at the Biola Invitational, clocking 24:13 over 8k to place third in Fullerton, California. Collins, who finished just two seconds back of eventual winner Michael Archie of Grand Canyon, led NAIA’s top-ranked men’s team to a third-place team finish.
This is the third year in a row that a male athlete from The Master’s (Calif.) has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Collins joins 2024 honoree Jack Anderson and 2023 honoree Brint Laubach in that regard.
NAIA WOMEN – Heather Murphy, Montreat (N.C.)
Sophomore | Portarlington, Ireland
What sophomore slump?
Heather Murphy shined at the Queen City Invitational this past weekend, clocking 17:10.4 for 5k to place sixth at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Montreat (N.C.) sophomore trailed only NCAA DI athletes from Wake Forest and Charlotte, while finishing ahead of Milligan (Tenn.)’s Ellen-Mary Kearney, the fifth-place finisher at last year’s NAIA Championships. Murphy, who placed fourth nationally as a freshman, led the Cavaliers.
This is the third time in her short career that Murphy has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Murphy earned national weekly honors twice in 2024.
NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Amantle Modingwane, Ranger (Texas)
Freshman | South Africa
Amantle Modingwane is a big reason for excitement with the Ranger (Texas) cross country men’s program, ranked No. 9 and in the national top-10 for the first time since 2020.
Modingwane won the Mustang Derby in Wichita Falls, Texas, on Thursday, clocking 17:43.7 over 6k for an 18.7-second victory. That followed a runner-up effort six days earlier as the top JUCO runner at UT Arlington’s Gerald Richey Invitational, where he ran 14:56.1 for 5k.
This is the first time that an athlete from Ranger has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country.
NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Milicent Wafula, Odessa (Texas)
Sophomore | Kenya
Milicent Wafula has been untouchable in her first two races this season.
Her most recent victory was by a margin of 20.3 seconds at the Texas Tech Open, stopping the clock at 20:49.1 for 6k over Sarah Koomson of NCAA DII No. 2 West Texas A&M.
Wafula kicked off the year by winning Abilene Christian’s Naimadu Classic, running 13:36.5 for 2.49 miles in leading a 1-2-3 sweep by the No. 6-ranked Wranglers.
This is the fourth time that a female athlete from Odessa has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Wafula joins Elizabeth Ilanda (three times in 2024) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II MEN – Brady Eagar, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
Freshman | Mesa, Arizona
There’s sure to be a shakeup in the next NJCAA DII rankings, thanks to Brady Eagar of Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC.
Eagar was the top JUCO finisher at the Cougar Challenge at Cal State San Marcos, finishing 17th in 25:06.3 over 8k as the No. 6-ranked Pumas finished ahead of rival Mesa (Ariz.) CC, currently No. 2.
Interestingly, Eagar went to high school in Mesa at Mountain View. This is his first collegiate cross country season after sitting out last fall, although he ran 14:59.09 for 5000 on the track last spring as a member of Salt Lake (Utah) CC’s distance crew.
This is the fourth time that a male athlete from Paradise Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Eagar joins Jackson Bland (twice in 2024) and Gilbert Olivas (2022) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Olivia Baker, Mesa (Ariz.) CC
Freshman | Flagstaff, Arizona
Olivia Baker continues to impress as the leading runner for No. 1-ranked Mesa (Ariz.) CC.
Baker was the leading JUCO athlete at the Cal State San Marcos Cougar Challenge, finishing fourth overall in 21:22.1 over the 6k course. It’s her third race in a row finishing as the top NJCAA DII runner.
This is the sixth time that a female athlete from Mesa has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Baker was honored last week in joining Carmella Baldwin (2023), Kate Brockman (twice in 2022) and Tanaeya Johnson (2021) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION III MEN – Sebastian Welc, Harper (Ill.)
Freshman | Schaumburg, Illinois
The top runner for No. 3 Harper (Ill.) is quite the competition, with Sebastian Welc holding the latest top card.
Welc finished ninth as the leading JUCO runner at Concordia Wisconsin’s Ken Weidt Classic, being timed in 27:14.9 for the 8k course. That was one place and 3.0 seconds ahead of teammate Ryan Golden, who was the Hawks’ top finisher a week earlier at the North Central (Ill.) Invitational.
This is the 12th time that a male athlete from Harper has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Welc joins Owen Whelan (three times in 2024), Albert Szewczyk (2023), Jacob Melgosa (2019), Tony Espinoza (2018), Michael Sisko (2018), Sean Sanaghan (twice in 2017) and Scott Williams (twice in 2016) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Emily Marriott, Mineral Area (Mo.)
Freshman | Sikeston, Missouri
Emily Marriott is back leading the way for defending NJCAA DIII champion Mineral Area (Mo.) – even though the battle is between a pair of freshmen.
Marriott is now 2-1 over teammate Clay Whittenburg as the Cardinals’ leading runner, with her 20:57.4 clocking over 5k on a hot day making her the top JUCO athlete at Harding’s Steve Guymon Invitational.
Whittenburg, who was 17th in 21:09.4, was Mineral Area’s top finisher a week earlier at the Lyon Invitational while Marriott started the year as the team’s low stick at the H.W. Wright Classic.
This is the second time that a female athlete from Mineral Area has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Marriott joins Jailey Pigg (2024) in that regard.