M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week (October 6)
NEW ORLEANS – They were racing this past weekend.
Here are our M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week in collegiate cross country for October 6, 2025.
- NCAA Division I Men – Timothy Chesondin, Arkansas
- NCAA Division I Women – Hannah Gapes, NC State
- NCAA Division II Men – Aziz Mohammed, Northwest Missouri
- NCAA Division II Women – Sarah Koomson, West Texas A&M
- NCAA Division III Men – Emmanuel Leblond, Johns Hopkins
- NCAA Division III Women – Jules Bleskoski, RPI
- NAIA Men – Jack Gladfelter, Corban (Ore.)
- NAIA Women – Suzie Johnson, The Master’s (Calif.)
- NJCAA Division I Men – Chakib Cherkaoui Rhazouani, Iowa Central CC
- NJCAA Division I Women – Meryeme Mai, Garden City (Kan.) CC
- NJCAA Division II Men – Brady Eagar, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
- NJCAA Division II Women – Laynee Hollech, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
- NJCAA Division III Men – Evan Schiefer, Terra State (Ohio) CC
- 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.
NCAA DIVISION I MEN – Timothy Chesondin, Arkansas
Junior | Eldoret, Kenya
The 8k course at Agri Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas, has seen plenty of racing over the years – nearly three decades’ worth, in fact (the first two events were held in 1996).
No one has ever covered that grass circuit faster than Timothy Chesondin did this past weekend in winning the individual title at the Chile Pepper Festival. Chesondin stopped the clock at 22:53.6, breaking the course and meet records set last year by former teammate Kirami Yego by nearly four seconds. Chesondin also led the Razorbacks to the team title with 40 points.
This is just the second time in program history that a male athlete from Arkansas has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Chesondin joins 2013 honoree Stanley Kebenei in that regard.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Hannah Gapes, NC State
Senior | Rotorua, New Zealand
A two-woman race for the individual title at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational developed between the 3k and 5k split. Rylee Blade and Hannah Gapes were neck and neck.
Then Gapes dropped the hammer and Blade couldn’t respond – nor did anybody else.
Gapes stormed to victory in the weekend’s premier race, crossing the finish line in 19:19.7, more than 15 seconds faster than teammate Bethany Michalak. Blade eventually finished third.
This marks the sixth 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. Gapes joins two-time 2022 honoree Katelyn Tuohy, 2020 honoree Dominique Clairmonte, and two-time 2015 honoree Ryen Frazier in that regard.
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Aziz Mohammed, Northwest Missouri
Senior | Dunkwa-on-offin, Central, Ghana
Aziz Mohammed hung with the best this weekend.
The senior from Northwest Missouri elevated his game at the Chile Pepper Festival, finishing just outside the top-five in the McDonnell Memorial 8k. Four of the five guys to beat him were from the host squad, NCAA DI No. 19 Arkansas. The last of the bunch, Abraham Chelengam, was top five at the 2024 NCAA DI Midwest Regional Championship.
When all was said and done, Mohammed took sixth place in 23:44.2, some 15 seconds ahead of the next NCAA DII athlete. Come November, he’ll be looking to add another trophy to his case, having won the 1500-meter title at the 2025 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships just a few months prior.
This marks the first time an athlete from Northwest Missouri has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Sarah Koomson, West Texas A&M
Senior | Adom Banso, Ghana
For the first time this season, West Texas A&M took a ride outside the Lone Star State. Sarah Koomson made the most of it.
A few seconds was all that stood between the Buffs’ junior and a top-five finish at the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic. Koomson crossed the line eighth, going 16:54.47 across 5k. Save for a single name, the seven individuals that finished in front of her were top-100 at the 2024 NCAA DI Championships – two collected All-American status.
Koomson’s season thus far mirrors her freshman campaign, where she burst onto the scene, taking sixth place at the 2023 NCAA DII Championships. In fact, results from The Texas Red Raider Open and the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic show she’s actually running an average of 20 seconds faster than two years ago. We’ll see more data in a few weeks when Koomson takes the line to defend her title at the LSC Championships.
This marks the second time that Koomson has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Koomson previously earned national weekly honors on September 18, 2023.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Emmanuel Leblond, Johns Hopkins
Senior | Mountain View, California
Emmanuel Leblond isn’t backing down.
Leblond delivered his second gutsy performance in as many meets against top NCAA DI competition – and once again, he more than held his own. This time, it came in the Men’s College Gold 8k at the Paul Short Run, where he finished sixth in a personal-best 23:23.3, less than five seconds behind individual champion Sam Burgess of Harvard.
Johns Hopkins was one of just three NCAA DIII programs in the top race, while the rest competed in the Men’s College White 8k. Leblond outpaced the next-closest NCAA DIII athlete in his race by nearly 22 seconds and ran 41 seconds faster on the same course than Colorado College’s Will Shuflit, who won the White 8k over Roger Williams’ Nathan Tassey.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Jules Bleskoski, RPI
Junior | Syracuse, New York
Catch her, if you can.
If her name is Jules Bleskoski, good luck.
The junior from Syracuse, New York, made quick work of both the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course and the competition in the Women’s College White 6k this past weekend at the Paul Short Run. Bleskoski crossed the finish line in 20:20.8 – nearly seven seconds ahead of Middlebury’s Audrey Maclean (sixth at the NCAA Championships last year as a sophomore) and more than 18 seconds clear of Amherst’s Hannah Stephenson.
This is the third time in the past two years that Bleskoski has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Bleskoski previously earned national weekly honors this year on September 22 and last year on October 7.
NAIA MEN – Jack Gladfelter, Corban (Ore.)
Junior | Port Angeles, Washington
Beat an M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week, become an M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week? That’s not how it usually goes, but it certainly helped Jack Gladfelter’s cause.
Gladfelter competed this past weekend at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational and finished sixth among athletes from his own NAIA, as well as NCAA DI and NCAA DIII. One of the runners he beat was last week’s M-F National Athlete of the Week Yemeane Mulugeta.
This is the second time in the past three years that an athlete from Corban (Ore.) has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Gladfelter joins 2023 honoree Robert Swoboda in that regard.
NAIA WOMEN – Suzie Johnson, The Master’s (Calif.)
Senior | Vancouver, Washington
Suzie Johnson keeps winning.
It’s about time we took notice.
The senior from Vancouver, Washington, made it two in a row with a commanding victory at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational this past weekend. Johnson, who also won The Master’s Invitational two weeks ago, claimed top individual honors this time in 21:32.3.
This is the sixth time in program history – and the third year in a row – that a female athlete from The Master’s (Calif.) has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Johnson joins five-time honoree Hannah Fredericks.
NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Chakib Cherkaoui Rhazouani, Iowa Central CC
Freshman | Rabat, Morocco
Chakib Cherkaoui Rhazouani looked for hot competition and found it at the Chile Pepper Festival.
Cherkaoui Rhazouani was the top JUCO runner in the McDonnell Memorial race, taking 17th in 24:27.0 over Agri Park’s 8k course in a field predominantly made up of four-year programs. He continued as the top runner for the No. 1-ranked Tritons.
This is the 17th time that a male athlete from Iowa Central has been M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Chakib Rhazouani joins Housem Hrabi (2023), Asbel Kiprob (2021), Kelvin Bungei (2021 and twice in 2020), Pur Biel (twice in 2020), Awet Yohannes (2019), Ezekiel Kipchirchir (2018), Karim Achengli (four times in 2017), Omer Almog (2016) and Andrew Ronoh (twice in 2015) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Meryeme Mai, Garden City (Kan.) CC
Sophomore | Midelt, Morocco
No one came close to Meryeme Mai in the Prairie Fire Pepper race at the Chile Pepper Festival.
Mai’s crossed the finish line in 17:45.3 over 5k at Agri Park, earning victory by 11.3 seconds with a time that was the fastest by a JUCO runner among all races at the Chile Pepper Festival.
This is the second time that a female athlete from Garden City has been M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Mai joins Sandra Szpott (2017) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II MEN – Brady Eagar, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
Freshman | Mesa, Arizona
Brady Eagar didn’t let the strongest field he’s seen this year dishearten him.
Eagar was the top NJCAA DII finisher at Chile Pepper Festival, clocking 25:25.0 for 8k at Agri Park while finishing 77th in the McDonnell Memorial race that was loaded with runners from four-year programs along with two top-10-ranked NJCAA DI teams.
Eagar anchors the Pumas, ranked No. 2 in NJCAA DII.
This is the fifth time that a male athlete from Paradise Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Eagar was honored earlier this year in joining Jackson Bland (twice in 2024) and Gilbert Olivas (2022) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Laynee Hollech, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
Sophomore | Peoria, Arizona
Laynee Hollech traveled more than 1,000 miles with her No. 1-ranked Paradise Valley CC teammates to the Chile Pepper Festival.
And Hollech performed well in the top-rated Harter’s Habanero race, finishing 68th as the top NJCAA DII runner in 18:04.6 over the 5k course at Agri Park in a race chockful of four-year programs.
Her Pumas also impressed as a team, finishing ahead of Crowder (Mo.), which is No. 5 NJCAA DI.
This is the first time that a female athlete from Paradise Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country.
NJCAA DIVISION III MEN – Evan Schiefer, Terra State (Ohio) CC
Freshman | Attica, Ohio
Evan Schiefer had a strong performance at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational.
Schiefer finished 13th in the 8k race, clocking 26:35.3 as the top JUCO finisher by 23.7 seconds.
It’s the second time this fall that Schiefer has impressed as he was also the top NJCAA runner two weeks earlier in the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Championships with his seasonal best time of 25:44.7 for 8k.
This is the first time that an athlete from Terra State has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country.
NJCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Gabriela Zid, Joliet (Ill.) JC
Sophomore | Minooka, Illinois
Gabriela Zid shows up as Gabby Zid when she races, and she was at her fastest at the Seminole Valley Classic.
Zid led all JUCO athletes on the 6k tract at Seminole Valley Park, taking 56th in a personal-best time of 24:50.8 for the distance in a contest predominantly made up of four-year programs. She has led her Wolves this year to a No. 3 ranking among NJCAA Division III teams.
This is the ninth time that a female athlete from Joliet County has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Zid was honored in 2024 in joining Tiffany Lehmann (twice in 2021, five times in 2020) in that regard.