M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week (October 20)
NEW ORLEANS – Now THAT was a weekend.
Here are our M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week for October 20, 2025.
- NCAA Division I Men – Habtom Samuel, New Mexico
- co-NCAA Division I Women – Grace Hartman, NC State
- co-NCAA Division I Women – Jane Hedengren, BYU
- NCAA Division II Men – Andrew Nyland, Florida Southern
- NCAA Division II Women – Addi Aguayo, Union (Tenn.)
- NCAA Division III Men – Isaac vanWestrienen, Cornell (Iowa)
- NCAA Division III Women – Audrey MacLean, Middlebury
- NAIA Men – Yemane Mulugeta, Trinity Western (B.C.)
- NAIA Women – Alauna Carstens, Evergreen State (Wash.)
- NJCAA Division I Men – Matthew Binkley, Blinn (Texas)
- NJCAA Division I Women – Hafsa Oukadou, Iowa Central CC
- NJCAA Division II Men – Brady Eagar, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
- NJCAA Division II Women – Brooke Koelm, Lake Land (Ill.)
- NJCAA Division III Men – Alan Arnold, Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC
- NJCAA Division III Women – Brooke Keitel, Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC
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 – Habtom Samuel, New Mexico
Junior | Keren, Eritrea
Two shoes is always better than one.
Just ask Habtom Samuel.
The junior from Keren, Eritrea – who famously finished runner-up last year’s NCAA Championships after running the final 5k with only one shoe – kept both on this past weekend at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational. Samuel proved strongest over the final kilometer against two former M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week (the Washington State duo of Evans Kirui and Solomon Kipchoge), pulling away to a 7.6-second victory in 22:58.0.
Samuel’s strong finish guided No. 3 New Mexico to an emphatic team victory. The Lobos placed four runners in the top 15 and defeated No. 5 Colorado by 99 points, 51-150.
This is the second time that Samuel has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Samuel previously earned national weekly honors on October 21, 2024, after setting a course record at the Wisconsin Pre-National.
co-NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Grace Hartman, NC State
Senior | Oakwood, Ohio
Grace Hartman and her teammates made an NC State-ment in Wisconsin.
The senior from Oakwood, Ohio, led the No. 2 Wolfpack to a dominant showing at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational. Hartman made her season debut a winning one, cruising to a 4.6-second victory in 19:30.1 over teammate Angelina Napoleon. Along the way, Hartman beat two other former M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week – her own teammate Hannah Gapes (October 6) and Washington State’s Rosemary Longisa (September 29).
Behind Hartman, NC State overpowered 17 other nationally ranked programs. The Wolfpack went 1-2-9-11-18 for 41 points to bury No. 7 Notre Dame by 84 points.
This is the seventh time in program history that a female athlete from NC State has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Hartman joins Gapes, two-time 2022 honoree Katelyn Tuohy, 2020 honoree Dominique Clairemonte, and two-time 2015 honoree Ryen Frazier, in that regard.
co-NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Jane Hedengren, BYU
Freshman | Provo, Utah
Prized recruit Jane Hedengren sent a message to the rest of the nation at the Missouri Pre-National Invitational. That message? The hype is real.
Making her collegiate debut, the freshman from Provo, Utah, shattered the course record with her 18:42.3 victory – more than 20 seconds faster than the previous mark – and led No. 1 BYU to a 145-point win over No. 19 Villanova.
Hedengren didn’t shy away from the spotlight this past weekend, immediately tucking herself into the lead pack. By 3k, that pack had thinned to just Hedengren and Clemson’s Silvia Jelego. Over the next kilometer, Hedengren surged and opened a seven-second gap en route to a 23.5-second romp.
This is the third time in program history that a female athlete from BYU has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Hedengren joins 2021 honoree Whittni Orton and 2018 honoree Kate Hunter in that regard.
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Andrew Nyland, Florida Southern
Sophomore | Windermere, Florida
A personal best and a podium finish? Can’t get much better than that.
In a Sunshine State showdown at the Ed Holloway Cross Country Classic, Andrew Nyland came home third, posting 25:40.6 across 8k. The sophomore Moccasin kept pace as long as he could with Siyabonga Mokgothu of Florida Gulf Coast and Jared Falchook of Florida International, and it paid off. The two led Nyland to a 32 second personal best and his first top-5 finish.
In a few days the Florida Southern rep will be back on the grass at the Sunshine State Conference Championships. This time, it’s just NCAA DII competition that stand in his way.
This marks the second time a male athlete from Florida Southern has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Nyland joins Mason Jones, who collected the honors on March 3, 2020.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Addi Aguayo, Union (Tenn.)
Junior | Franklin, Tennessee
“Record-setter” has a nice ring to it.
Print it on Addi Aguayo’s resume.
The junior crossed the line in 21:27.80 at the Watson Collegiate Cross Country Classic to set a new Union (Tenn.) program record. But she didn’t just break the program record – she shattered it. The previous mark, set by teammate Ayla Young Cook, was more than 30 seconds back at 22:05.7.
Aguayo checked off a rather elusive milestone as well: the first win of her cross country career. Heading into Saturday, Tennessee native had finished runner-up in all three meets this season. Aguayo made sure not to repeat the same result again, taking down Lauren Wallace and Bre Bell of Mississippi College, a pair of Choctaws that had her number at the 2024 South Regional Championships. She got the last laugh this time around.
This marks the first time an athlete from Union (Tenn.) has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Isaac vanWestrienen, Cornell (Iowa)
Senior | Conifer, Colorado
A who’s who of NCAA DIII stars filled the lead pack through 4k of the Men’s Gold 8k at the Augustana Interregional Invitational. By 5.6k, it was down to two: 2025 NCAA DIII indoor 5k champ Grant Matthai of UW-La Crosse and Isaac vanWestrienen of Cornell (Iowa). By the finish, just one remained – vanWestrienen.
The senior from Conifer, Colorado, pulled away over the final 1.4k this past weekend to win in 23:57.1 – more than four seconds clear of Matthai. The victory marked his third career cross country title and a massive jump from his 12th-place finish at this meet a year ago.
This marks the first time in program history that a male athlete from Cornell College has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Audrey MacLean, Middlebury
Junior | Tiburon, California
Catch her if you can.
“If you can” are the operative words.
Nobody could track down Audrey MacLean this past weekend at the Connecticut College Invitational – not even athletes from each of the top-five teams in the National Coaches’ Poll.
The junior from Tiburon, California, romped to victory in Waterford, stopping the clock at 20:17.2 – the second fastest mark in course history – and winning by more than 22 seconds. By 1.65k, MacLean was already up by nearly two seconds and only widened the gap from there
This is the third time in program history that a female athlete from Middlebury has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. MacLean joins 2015 honoree Abigail Nadler and 2014 honoree Alison Maxwell in that regard.
NAIA MEN – Yemane Mulugeta, Trinity Western (B.C.)
Sophomore | Surrey, British Columbia
Times don’t matter in cross country – but fast is fast.
Yemane Mulugeta clocked the fastest 8k among NAIA athletes this season, winning the Linfield George Oja Invitational in 23:34.1. Even more impressive: he did it virtually solo, pulling away to win by more than 13 seconds over teammate Justin Kiplagat. Former M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week Jack Gladfelter crossed third, about 15 seconds back.
This is the second time this season that Mulugeta has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week. He previously earned national weekly honors on September 29.
NAIA WOMEN – Alauna Carstens, Evergreen State (Wash.)
Junior | Shelton, Washington
Welcome to the sub-21 club, Alauna Carstens.
The junior from Shelton, Washington, became the third woman in the NAIA this season to dip under 21 minutes for 6k. She didn’t just break the barrier this past weekend at the Linfield George Oja Invitational – she smashed it, winning in 20:15.2.
Carstens, who competed unattached last cross country season, showed her promise with a 15th-place finish at the 2023 NAIA Championships. This fall, she’s poised to climb even higher.
This is the second time this season that Carstens has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week. She previously earned national weekly honors on September 22.
NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Matthew Binkley, Blinn (Texas)
Freshman | Montgomery, Texas
Matthew Binkley led a virtual parade for Blinn (Texas) at the NJCAA Region 14 Championships.
Binkley claimed the individual title by 19 seconds, finishing the 7.8k course in 24:22 in Brenham, Texas. The Buccaneers dominated the race, taking four of the top five spots to win their first regional team title since relaunching their cross country program last year.
This is the first time that an athlete from Blinn has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country.
NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Hafsa Oukadou, Iowa Central CC
Freshman | Zagora, Morocco
Hafsa Oukadou had a strong performance in leading Iowa Central CC prior to hosting the NJCAA Championships along with this week’s Region 11 Championships.
Oukadou was the top JUCO athlete at the Bradley Pink Classic, taking fourth in the White Division race with a time of 22:06.2 for 6k. She was also fourth two weeks earlier in the Chile Pepper Festival’s Prairie Fire Pepper contest, clocking 18:09.0 for 5k.
This is the 21st time that a female athlete from Iowa Central has been M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Oukadou joins Maurine Limo (2023), Chloe Garcia Grafing (2021), Eleonora Curtabbi (2020), Winrose Chesang (twice in 2019, once in 2018), Abeba Sullivan (twice in 2018), Adva Cohen (three times in 2017) and Leanne Pompeani (four times in 2016, five times in 2015) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II MEN – Brady Eagar, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
Freshman | Mesa, Arizona
Racing above division seems to embolden Brady Eagar, who did so again at UC Riverside’s Highlander Invitational.
Eagar was the top NJCAA DII runner in the Invitational race, clocking 24:24.4 for 33rd place on the 8k course on the UCR Agricultural Operations Course.
It’s the third time in three races this season that Eagar has topped all NJCAA DII runners he’s lined up against, following the Cal State San Marcos Cougar Challenge in September and the McDonnell Memorial race at the Chile Pepper Festival earlier this month.
This is the sixth time that a male athlete from Paradise Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Eagar was twice honored earlier this year in joining Jackson Bland (twice in 2024) and Gilbert Olivas (2022) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Brooke Koelm, Lake Land (Ill.)
Freshman | Edgewood, Illinois
Brooke Koelm earned victory and some revenge in winning the Greenville Classic in Elsah, lllinois.
Koelm’s time of 18:39.6 over the 6k course at Hillsboro Country Club was 21.5 seconds ahead of runner-up and rival Aleigha Garrison of Parkland (Ill.) in bringing their head-to-head season record to 2-2.
Their three previous races together had come in September with Koelm getting the early upper hand at Eastern Illinois’ Walt Crawford Invitational before Garrison finishing ahead at the Bradley Intercollegiate and Heartland Invitational. They’re scheduled to meet again at the Region 24 Championships on Friday in Petersburg, Indiana.
This is the first time that an athlete from Lake Land has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country.
NJCAA DIVISION III MEN – Alan Arnold, Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC
Freshman | Espous, New York
Alan Arnold gave Hudson Valley (N.Y.) the first of two reasons to celebrate at the Mountain Valley Conference Championships.
His time of 28:57.8 over the 8k course at Herkimer Valley (N.Y.) CC earned him individual honors by 37.3 seconds, and his teammates followed in four of the next seven places to seal the team title with 21 points.
This is the fourth time that a male athlete from Hudson Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Arnold joins Shazim Permaul (2021) and Jared Craw (twice in 2018) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Brooke Keitel, Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC
Sophomore | Manorville, New York
A runner-up finish at the St. Joseph’s (Long Island) Invitational had special meaning for Brooke Keitel.
The race served as the NJCAA Region 15 Championship for DIII programs, and Keitel’s time of 21:09.9 over the Sunken Meadow Park 5k course was tops among athletes from those squads by 13.0 seconds, giving her the regional individual title.
This is the ninth time that a female athlete from Suffolk County has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Keitel joins Yasmeen Araujo (2021), Alexandra Smith (four times in 2019), Ryleigh Donegan (twice in 2015) and Leana Wiebelt (2015) in that regard.