NCAA XC National Athletes of the Week (Feb. 10)
NEW ORLEANS – Cross country meets were held across the nation this past weekend.
Here are the four athletes who stood out the most and were named National Athletes of the Week in NCAA Division I and NCAA Division III by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday.
- NCAA Division I Men – Wesley Kiptoo, Iowa State
- NCAA Division I Women – Ella Donaghu, Stanford
- NCAA Division III Men – Josh Fry, Colorado College
- NCAA Division III Women – Jordan Juran, Trinity (Texas)
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 – Wesley Kiptoo, Iowa State
Junior | Marakwet, Kenya
Wesley Kiptoo remained undefeated on the grass circuit.
The junior from Marakwet, Kenya, rolled to an individual title at the Florida State Winter Cross Country Classic this past Friday. Kiptoo covered the 8K course at Apalachee Regional Park in 22:48.8, just about 15 seconds faster than runner-up Eduardo Herrera of Colorado and demolished a six-year-old course record by nearly 35 seconds.
Just like he did in the fall, Kiptoo opened up an early lead and never looked back. Kiptoo led by one second at 3K, extended that to nearly seven seconds at 4K, 11 seconds at 5K and cruised to the finish line from there.
This is the second time this season that Kiptoo has been named National Athlete of the Week in cross country. He previously earned the honor back on October 6, 2020. It also marks the sixth time in Kiptoo’s collegiate career that he has been honored for his exploits on the cross country course by the USTFCCCA (He nabbed four national honors at the NJCAA DI level).
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Ella Donaghu, Stanford
Senior | Portland, Oregon
Ella Donaghu proved ready in her first race of the season.
The senior from Portland, Oregon, showed her strength over the final 1K at the Florida State Winter Cross Country Classic this past Friday and pulled away to a 2.1-second victory over Cailie Logue of Iowa State in the Garnet Women’s 6K. Donaghu crossed the finish line in 20:07.0 and was the only athlete in the field to cover the final 1K in less than three minutes, 10 seconds.
This is the first time in program history that a female athlete from Stanford has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season. Donaghu is also the first from the Pac-12 Conference since Susan Ejore of Oregon back on September 10, 2018.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Josh Fry, Colorado College
Junior | Bethesda, Maryland
It was a three-man race for the individual title at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships this past weekend: Josh Fry of Colorado College, Ben Whittemore of Trinity (Texas) and James Settles of Colorado College all had a claim to the crown throughout the proceedings at the University of Dallas Cross Country Course.
Fry ultimately pulled away late to win the crown in 26:35.6, just 0.5 seconds ahead of Whittemore, who finished runner-up. Settles ended up third and coupled with Fry’s low stick, Colorado College was able to put enough distance between itself and the rest of the teams in the field to defend its conference title.
This is the first time in program history that an athlete from Colorado College has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Jordan Juran, Trinity (Texas)
Senior | Littleton, Colorado
Every single point matters at a conference championship meet.
Jordan Juran gave Trinity (Texas) the fewest points possible at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships this past weekend with her individual title. Juran crossed the finish line in 21:48.1, exactly 19 seconds ahead of runner-up and teammate Abby Blackwood.
Trinity (Texas) had to sweat, but with Juran and Blackwood going 1-2 and a third-place effort by Ellie Catron, the team could finally celebrate its fifth conference title in program history once Paige Tangney and Lynzie Kutsner rounded out the scoring lineup in ninth and 10th place.
This is the first time in program history that an athlete from Trinity (Texas) has been named National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.
