M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week (October 2)
NEW ORLEANS – Like McDonald’s, “We’re loving it.”
Here are our M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week in collegiate cross country for October 2, 2023!
- NCAA Division I Men – Chandler Gibbens, Kansas
- NCAA Division I Women – Doris Lemngole, Alabama
- NCAA Division II Men – William Amponsah, West Texas A&M
- NCAA Division II Women – Natalie Graber, Grand Valley State
- NCAA Division III Men – Christian Patzka, UW-Whitewater
- NCAA Division III Women – Fiona Smith, Saint Benedict
- NAIA Men – Cornelius Kipkoegi, Cumberlands (Ky.)
- NAIA Women – Sage Martin, College of Idaho
- NJCAA Division I Men – Kidus Misgina, Trinidad State (Colo.)
- NJCAA Division I Women – N Vanee Anchike, Cloud County (Kan.) CC
- NJCAA Division II Men – Ben Huey, Heartland (Ill.) CC
- NJCAA Division II Women – Carmella Baldwin, Mesa (Ariz.) CC
- NJCAA Division III Men – Bradley Ahrens, Mineral Area (Mo.)
- NJCAA Division III Women – Lilly Alberts, Harper (Ill.)
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 – Chandler Gibbins, Kansas
Senior | Columbia, Missouri
Raise your hand if you had Chandler Gibbens winning the individual title in the Men’s Blue 5 Mile at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational on your Bingo card.
Gibbens surprised everybody – well, maybe not himself – when he crossed the finish line first in 23:08.4 this past weekend on the Burke Golf Course. He deftly moved up the pack throughout the race: Gibbens sat 17th at the 1 mile, ninth at 4k, fifth at 5.1k, tied for first at the 6.9k and then proved strongest over the final stretch to win by 2.2 seconds over the Alabama duo of Hillary Cheruiyot and Victor Kiprop, who won both the SEC and South Region individual title last year.
This is the first time in program history that an athlete from Kansas has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Doris Lemngole, Alabama
Freshman
Two races. Two wins for Doris Lemngole.
The Alabama freshman continued her winning ways this past weekend at the Joe Piane Invitational, as she romped to victory on the Burke Golf Course. Lemngole, who also won at the Southern Showcase two weeks ago, took the lead by 4k and never looked back on her way to a 9.2-second victory in 16:05.9. She beat several All-Americans from the 2022 cross country season, including eventual runner-up Kelsey Chmiel of NC State (Chmiel was third in 2022).
This is the third time in the past four years that a female athlete from Alabama has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Lemngole joins two-time honoree and former #NCAAXC champion Mercy Chelangat in that regard.
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – William Amponsah, West Texas A&M
Junior | Agona Swedru, Accra, Ghana
Make it three in a row for William Amponsah.
The West Texas A&M standout won his third consecutive race of the season this past weekend when he cruised to victory in the Men’s 8k Gold at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic. He stopped the clock at 23:08.6, nearly six seconds faster than 2022 champion Jason Bowers. That low stick helped West Texas A&M finish fourth in a stacked race with talented competition.
Amponsah previously won at the Big Country Festival and the Texas Tech Open.
This is the first time since 2021 that a male athlete from West Texas A&M has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Ampsonah joins Innocent Murwanashyaka in that regard (Murwanashyaka earned honors on October 18, 2021).
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Natalie Graber, Grand Valley State
Senior | Loogootee, Indiana
Natalie Graber and her Grand Valley State teammates stepped up to the plate in Louisville.
Graber led the Lakers to the team title in the Women’s 5k Gold at the Live in the Lou Cross Country Classic with a runner-up finish in 16:58.3. The GVSU star was a clear second and the fastest NCAA Division II athlete by more than six seconds, beating former M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week Sarah Koomson of West Texas A&M for top divisional honors.
Behind Graber, the top-ranked Lakers put two other runners in the top-10 – four in the top-15 – and slugged their way to a resounding victory over No. 2 Adams State, 58-95.
This is the second year in a row that Graber has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Graber previously earned national weekly honors on November 7, 2022, following her victory at the Midwest Region Championships.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Christian Patzka, UW-Whitewater
Junior | Black Earth, Wisconsin
The contenders in the Men’s Varsity 8k at the Blugold Invitational whittled down one by one as the race progressed: five men were within one second of the lead at the 2 mile; four were within the same distance at 5k; and then two were separated by just 0.30 seconds at the 3.75 mile split.
That’s when Christian Patzka made his move and beat former M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week Will Kelly of St. Olaf by more than seven seconds in 24:31.0. Patzka now has two wins under his belt in 2023, previously triumphing at the UWRF River Town Twilight in September.
This is the first time since 2014 that a male athlete from UW-Whitewater has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Patzka joins Dawson Miller in that regard (Miller earned national weekly honors way back on October 27, 2014).
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Fiona Smith, Saint Benedict
Senior | Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Fiona Smith keeps winning and breaking course records.
Smith made it look easy this past weekend at the Blugold Invitational. The Saint Benedict standout covered the 6k tract in 20:21.7, nearly 42 seconds faster than runner-up Hannah Preisser of Carleton. Smith was off in a flash, leading by 55 seconds at the 3k split.
The undefeated Bennie previously won – and demolished course records – at the Toni St. Pierre Invitational (16:41.6, 5k) and the Running of the Cows (20:12.7, 6k).
This is the second time this season that Smith has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week. Smith previously earned national weekly honors on September 18.
NAIA MEN – Cornelius Kipkogei, Cumberlands (Ky.)
Freshman
Cornelius Kipkogei shepherded his team to victory at the Live in Lou Classic.
Kipkogei finished fifth in a stacked Men’s 8k Blue competition that featured several All-Americans from both the NAIA and NCAA Division II. Not only that, but there were nine programs who were ranked among the top-25 in the most recent NAIA National Coaches’ Poll.
With Kipkogei leading the way and teammate Serhiy Shevchenro right behind him in sixth place, Cumberlands (Ky.) beat NCAA DII No. 4 Grand Valley State, 133-177. Montreat (N.C.) was the closest NAIA program to the Patriots, finishing third with 221 points.
This is the first time in program history that an athlete from Cumberlands (Ky.) has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NAIA WOMEN – Sage Martin, College of Idaho
Senior | Meridian, Idaho
Sage Martin was the big winner at the Charles Bowles Willamette XC Invitational.
Martin crossed the finish line first in 17:17.9 with teammate Abbey Shirts hot on her heels in 17:20.2 to lead College of Idaho to the team title over a plethora of NCAA DI programs.
It has been a strong start to the season for Martin. She previously finished runner-up at the CCC Preview Meet on September 15 and won the Dr. Thad Scholes XC Classic on September 1.
This is the second year in a row that a female athlete from College of Idaho has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Martin joins 2022 honoree Ellyse Tingelstad in that regard (Tingelstad nabbed the award on October 17).
NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Kidus Misgina, Trinidad State (Colo.)
Sophomore | Chicago, Illinois
Trinidad State (Colo.) is ranked No. 1 NJCAA Division I – in no small part to Kidus Misgina.
Misgina is the lead runner for the Trojans, who impressed in the top-level McDonnell Memorial 8k at the Chile Pepper Festival. Misgina was third as the top JUCO runner, clocking 24:00.2 for 8k in breaking up a potential sweep by host Arkansas.
It’s the second time this year that Misgina has shined among four-year programs as he was runner-up to NCAA DII outdoor 5000-meter champ Awet Beraki of Adams State at the Joe I. Vigil Open three weeks ago.
This is the first time that a male athlete from Trinidad State has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – N Vanee Anchike, Cloud County (Kan.) CC
Freshman | Kumasi, Ghana
N Vanee Anchike left no doubt at the Gans Creek Invitational.
Anchike is used to being the top JUCO runner, but this time she garnered her first victory. She won the Open Division race by 12.1 seconds, clocking 22:10.4 for the 6k course. The next-closest JUCO runner was 46.3 seconds back.
This is the second time that a female athlete from Cloud County CC has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Anchike joins Patricia Koma (2020) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II MEN – Ben Huey, Heartland (Ill.) CC
Sophomore | Oswego, Illinois
It was easy as 1-2-3 for Heartland (Ill.) CC – especially with Ben Huey leading the way.
Huey paced the fifth-ranked Hawks to victory at their own Heartland Invitational, racing to a time of 26:29.8 for 8k. He won by 15.5 seconds as teammates Eli Mojonnier and Matt Padilla joined him in breaking 27 minutes as Heartland won with 19 points.
This is the first time that a male athlete from Heartland has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NJCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Carmella Baldwin, Mesa (Ariz.) CC
Freshman | Chandler, Arizona
The Arizona Community College Conference Championships was no ordinary conference meet.
All divisions race together, and Carmella Baldwin of No. 2-ranked NJCAA Division II Mesa (Ariz.) CC was best of all. She traversed the 5k course in 19:10.0 to win by 25 seconds.
This is the fourth time that a female athlete from Mesa has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Baldwin joins Kate Brockman (twice in 2022) and Tanaeya Johnson (2021) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION III MEN – Bradley Ahrens, Mineral Area (Mo.) CC
Sophomore | Imperial, Missouri
Bradley Ahrens rose to the occasion.
Competing against his toughest competition of the year, Ahrens fared quite well at the Nike XC Town Twilight. He was the leading JUCO finisher in 18th place, covering the 8k course in 26:21.6, leading Mineral Area (Mo.) CC – ranked No. in NJCAA Division III – to sixth place.
Ahrens has built a strong resume with the Cardinals, taking runner-up in last year’s NJCAA DIII Cross Country Championships and adding an NJCAA DIII outdoor 1500 title last spring.
This is the eighth time that a male athlete from Mineral Area has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Ahrens earned the honor twice last year, joining Kyle Vinyard (twice in 2021) and Donovan Denslow (three times in 2020) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Lilly Alberts, Harper (Ill.)
Freshman | Richmond, Illinois
Make if four-for-four for Lilly Alberts.
This may have been her most impressive win yet, triumphing by 30.3 seconds with a time of 18:52.3 for 5k at the Heartland Invitational as her No. 2-ranked Hawks were runner-up to NJCAA DII No. 5 Heartland (Ill.) CC. That was her largest winning margin of the year, and it came over Southeastern (Iowa) CC’s Aisha Ramone, last spring’s NJCAA DI steeplechase runner-up.
This is the 14th time that a female athlete from Harper has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Harper won it last week and three times in 2022, joining Rachel Temple (2018), Misbah Baig (twice in 2017) and Ali Gutt (five times in 2016, once in 2015) in that regard.