NCAA XC National Athletes of the Week (Feb. 17)
NEW ORLEANS – Fall … winter … spring.
It doesn’t matter the season: cross country athletes are still getting after it.
Here are the six individuals who were named National Athletes of the Week on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
- NCAA Division I Men – Hochine Bouchrak, High Point
- NCAA Division I Women – Shanley Koekemoer, Campbell
- NCAA Division II Men – Philip White, West Liberty
- NCAA Division II Women – Calli Beshore, Arkansas Tech
- NCAA Division III Men – Ben Camuel, Centre
- NCAA Division III Women – Amelia Lorrey, Centre
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 – Hochine Bouchrak, High Point
Senior | Alicante, Spain
Winning has definitely been a part of Hochine Bouchrak’s plan this winter.
Ever since making his 2021 debut a few weeks ago, Bouchrak has been on a roll, winning four consecutive races with each of the past two coming on the cross country course. Just this past weekend, Bouchrak made it two-for-two in cross country with a 9.6-second victory at the High Point University Winter Vertcross to lead the Panthers to a team title.
This is the first time in program history that an athlete from High Point has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Shanley Koekemoer, Campbell
Junior | Pretoria, South Africa
Shanley Koekemoer ran virtually unopposed this past weekend.
Koekemoer made quick work of the competition at the High Point University Winter Vertcross in Kernersville, North Carolina, covering the 6K tract in 21:56.3 for a near 16-second victory.
This is the first time in program history that a female athlete from Campbell has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Philip White, West Liberty
Junior | Morgantown, West Virginia
Tough weather conditions didn’t stop Philip White.
The junior from Morgantown, West Virginia, battled his way through a cold and wet 5K at the North Carolina Cross Country Classic, clinching the victory in 15:57.5 to win by 34.5 seconds. White led a 1-2-3 finish for the Hilltoppers en route to a team title with 22 points in their first meet of the season.
This is the first time in program history an athlete from West Liberty has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Calli Beshore, Arkansas Tech
Freshman | Nevada, Missouri
Calli Beshore is making an impact for Arkansas Tech.
Beshore, a freshman from Nevada, Missouri, won her first collegiate cross country race at the Bob Gravett Invitational. She was clocked at 18:26.9 over 5K for an 18.6-second margin of victory. Beshore also led the Golden Suns to a team title with 21 points – their second win of the season.
This is the first time in program history an athlete from Arkansas Tech has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Ben Camuel, Centre
Sophomore | Lexington, Kentucky
Ben Camuel wasn’t bothered by a little bit of mud.
Camuel won his first career collegiate cross country race this past weekend at the Berry Cross Country Invitational. He covered the rain-soaked 8K tract in 27:44.8 – 19 seconds ahead of his next closest competitor – and led the Colonels to the team title with 27 points.
This is the first time in program history that a male athlete from Centre College has been named National Athlete of the Week in cross country.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Amelia Lorrey, Centre
Senior | Kittery Point, Maine
Another week. Another Centre runner dominating the grass circuit.
Amelia Lorrey cruised to an eight-second victory at the rain-soaked Berry Cross Country Invitational this past weekend in 23:47.2. With Lorrey’s ultimate low stick, the Colonels were able to post a 41-point win over Rhodes, 19-60 (Centre athletes went 1-2-4-5-7).
This is the second time this season that a Centre female athlete has been named National Athlete of the Week. Meghan Owens, who finished runner-up here, took home the honor two weeks ago after winning the Rhodes College Cross Country Invitational.
