NCAA XC National Athletes of the Week (March 24)
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes of the Week for March 24 were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Here are those individuals who earned national honors from the USTFCCCA for their efforts during the continued cross country season.
- NCAA Division II Men – Emeric Arnaud, Davis & Elkins
- NCAA Division II Women – Stefanie Parsons, Edinboro
- NCAA Division III Men – Cooper Knorr, Stockton
- NCAA Division III Women – Alison Bryant, Franciscan (Ohio)
Find out more about each of these athletes 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 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 II MEN – Emeric Arnaud, Davis & Elkins
Sophomore | Annecy Le Vieux, France
Make it back-to-back honors for Emeric Arnaud.
The sophomore captured the individual title at the Mountain East Conference Championships on Saturday at Oglebay Park in Wheeling, West Virginia. He navigated the 8K course in 25:51.87 to become the first Senator to win a conference title since 1993. Arnaud led the Senators to a runner-up finish in the team standings with 38 points behind Charleston (W.V.)’s 34.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Stefanie Parsons, Edinboro
Senior | Acton, Ontario
It didn’t matter that it was Edinboro’s first cross country race since November 2019.
Stefanie Parsons and the Fighting Scots successfully defended their respective conference titles.
The senior from Acton, Ontario capped her collegiate cross country career with her second straight PSAC crown. Parsons finished the 5K in 17.31.8 for a 23.7 second victory over the runner-up finisher. She led three Fighting Scots to top-4 finishes as Edinboro claimed its second consecutive PSAC Championship over Lock Haven, 58-83.
This is the first time a female athlete from Edinboro has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Cooper Knorr, Stockton
Senior | Manapalan, New Jersey
Cooper Knorr made a decisive move right after the 2.4K split at the NJAC Cross Country Championships this past weekend. It also happened to be the winning one, as well.
Knorr, lock-step with a group of seven other runners, pushed the pace and put a 21-second gap between himself and his closest competitor by the 5.4K split. He kept a consistent advantage the rest of the way as he won by 21 seconds in 25:33.2.
This is the first time in program history that an athlete from Stockton has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Alison Bryant, Francsican (Ohio)
Junior | Arlington, Texas
Nobody was going to catch Alison Bryant at the PAC Cross Country Championships.
Bryant led from the gun and never looked back over the 5K tract until she crossed the finish line in 18:28.4, 50 seconds ahead of individual runner-up Jessie Taylor.
That win capped an undefeated season for Bryant, as she also won by 1 minute, 23 seconds, three weeks earlier at the PAC Preview at Saint Vincent College.
This is the first time in program history that a female athlete from Franciscan (Ohio) has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
