USTFCCCA News & Notes
By USTFCCCA Communications, USTFCCCA September 22, 2020   

NCAA & NJCAA XC National Athletes of the Week (Sept. 22)

NEW ORLEANS – If cross country is happening, you better believe we’re watching.

And if we’re watching, you better believe we’re itching to give out some awards.

Here are those athletes who stood out across the board and were named National Athletes of the Week on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Find out more about each of these runners by clicking their names or 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 12 collegiate cross country athletes, when applicable (male and female for each of the three NCAA divisions and three NJCAA divisions).

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 – Mario Garcia Romo, Ole Miss

Junior | Salamanca, Spain

Mario Garcia Romo earned the first individual victory of his collegiate career this past weekend.

Garcia Romo, a junior from Salamanca, Spain, captured the individual title at the SEC Preview Meet after covering the 6K tract in 17:23.3. He was nearly two seconds ahead of runner-up Emmanuel Cheboson of Arkansas, who transferred from Louisville before the last indoor season and won the 5000 at the SEC Indoor Championships this past February.

This is the second time that a male athlete from Ole Miss has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Garcia Romo joins Sean Tobin (October 3, 2016) as the only Rebels to earn this honor in program history.

NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Cailie Logue, Iowa State

Senior | Erie, Kansas

It had been nearly seven months since Cailie Logue last raced.

Logue, a senior from Erie, Kansas, showed no signs of rust this past weekend at the Bob Timmons Classic as she romped to a 42-second victory. Running virtually alone the entire time, Logue covered the 5K tract at the famed Rim Rock Farm in 17:08.5.

Over the past few years, Logue has grown accustomed to winning. She is the two-time defending conference champion in cross country and completed a distance double at the past two editions of the Big 12 Track & Field Championships (3000-5000 indoors, 5000-10K outdoors).

This is the third time that a female athlete from Iowa State has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Logue joins Abby Caldwell (September 9, 2019) and Crystal Nelson (October 20, 2014) in that regard.

NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Charlie Sweeney, Western Colorado

Junior | Owings, Maryland

Charlie Sweeney ran away with a victory in his season opener.

Sweeney, an All-American last year thanks to his 11th place finish at the NCAA Championships, rolled to a 26-second win at the Mountaineer/Cowboy Invite. He navigated the 8K course in 25:46.6 en route to setting a new course record.

This is the third time that an athlete from Western Colorado has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.

NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Celine Ritter, Lee (Tenn.)

Senior | Roesarth, Germany

Celine Ritter got her senior season off to a fast start.

The senior from Roesrath, Germany, set a Lee (Tenn.) record for 5K on her way to the individual championship at the UAH Chargers XC Open. Ritter crossed the finish line in 17:06.32 for a 13-second win over the next best finisher.

This is the first time that an athlete from Lee (Tenn.) has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.

NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Jonathan Ellis, Calvin

Senior | Baltimore, Maryland

Jonathan Ellis had a breakthrough junior campaign.

Now, he is trying to make his last year one to remember.

Ellis, a senior from Baltimore, Maryland, picked up his second career victory on the grass circuit this past weekend as he crossed the finish line first at the Olivet Invitational. He covered the 8K course in 25:07.0, 13 seconds ahead of teammate Brandan Knepper, who finished runner-up.

Last year, Ellis finished in the top-10 of four different meets, which included a victory at the MIAA Championships and a runner-up effort at the Great Lakes Region Championships. He would later finish 18th at the NCAA Championships in Louisville, Kentucky.

Then, Ellis added a trio of strong efforts during the indoor season, including an outing at the MIAA Indoor Championships where he won the 5000 and finished third in the 3000.

Ellis is the first male athlete in program history to be named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season (Lauren Strobehn earned the honor back in 2015).

NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Sadie Heeringa, Calvin

Senior | Grand Rapids, Michigan

Sadie Herringa paced a perfect effort from Calvin this past weekend.

Herringa, a senior from Grand Rapids, Michigan, posted her first career victory on the grass circuit at the Olivet Invitational as she helped the Knights post a 15-point score. She covered the 5K tract in 18:23.0, one second ahead of runner-up and teammate Annie Needs.

Previously, Herringa’s best placement at a collegiate cross country meet was 12th at the MIAA Championships last year. A few months later, she finished runner-up in the 800 and mile at the MIAA Indoor Championships, which included a close finish in the latter.

Herringa is the second female athlete in program history to be named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Lauren Strobehn earned the honor back in 2015.

NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Kelvin Bungei, Iowa Central CC

Freshman | Kitale, Kenya

Kelvin Bungei is 3 for 3 this season.

After winning the Grand View Open two weeks ago, Bungei followed that up with a dominant victory at the Morningside Open this past weekend. He covered the 8K course in 24:49.3, a full 21 seconds ahead of the next closest competitor (Yonas Mogos of Iowa Western CC).

If Bungei’s name sounds familiar, it’s because it should. Bungei racked up the points at the NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships back in March, finishing second in the 1000, third in the 5000, fourth in the 3000 and fifth in the mile.

This is the fifth year in a row that a male athlete from Iowa Central CC has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.

NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Faith Linga, Iowa Western CC

Sophomore | Nairobi, Kenya

She’s baaaaaack.

Faith Linga picked up right where she left off in March.

That came be summed up in one, simple word: winning.

Linga earned her first victory of the season on the grass circuit this past weekend at the Morningside Open. She covered the 5K tract in 17:23.5, nearly three seconds ahead of one of her main rivals from last year, Eleonora Curtabbi of Iowa Central CC.

There were few NJCAA athletes who could hang with Linga last year. Linga rolled to a 13-second victory at the NJCAA Cross Country Championships in November and then doubled up on titles at the NJCAA Indoor Championships in March by sweeping the 3000 and 5000.

This is the fourth time in her career that Linga has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Linga earned the honor three times last year.

NJCAA DIVISION II MEN – Andy Martinez, Daytona State College

Sophomore | Melbourne, Florida

Andy Martinez posted another impressive win.

Martinez, a sophomore from Melbourne, Florida, romped to his second consecutive victory by more than 50 seconds, winning the individual title at the Alligator Lake Invitational by 64 seconds after covering the 5K tract in 16:10.6. Just the previous week, Martinez won the Florida Horsepark Invitational by 59 seconds.

This is the first time that a male athlete from the NJCAA Division II level has been named National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

NJCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Abigael Kemboi, Colby (Kan.) CC

Sophomore | Eldoret, Kenya

Abigael Kemboi won big at the Muthama Rogers Invitational this past weekend.

Kemboi, a sophomore from Eldoret, Kenya, cruised to an eight-second win as she covered the 5K tract in 18:09.8. She beat a number of athletes from the NJCAA Division I, NJCAA Division II and NAIA levels. It marked her second career victory on the grass circuit (Her first came at the NJCAA Region VI Championships last year).

This is the first time that a female athlete from the NJCAA Division II level has been named National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

NJCAA DIVISION III MEN – Julian Rosenbach, Joilet (Ill.) JC

Freshman | Joilet, Illinois

Julian Rosenbach fared well in his first 8K race.

Rosenbach, a freshman from Joilet, Illinois, placed seventh at the Heartland CC Invitational this past weekend, covering the course in 27:51.1. He was the top-finishing NJCAA Division III athlete by 16 seconds.

This is the first time that a male athlete from Joilet (Ill.) JC has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.

NJCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Tiffany Lehmann, Joilet (Ill.) JC

Freshman | Joilet, Illinois

Tiffany Lehmann might like this whole cross country thing.

Lehman, running the first cross country race of her life, was the top NJCAA Division III finisher at the Heartland Invitational this past weekend. She covered the 5K tract in 20:29.6, 10 seconds faster than the next closest NJCAA Division III competitor.

This is the first time that a female athlete from Joilet (Ill.) JC has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.