DALLAS – Multiple athletes earn their third weekly honors of the season, including Kennesaw State’s Collins Kipkemboi (Men’s Athlete of the Week), Jacksonville State's Nelbat Kirwa (Men’s Freshman of the Week) and Liberty’s Allie Zealand (Women’s Athlete of the Week). The Gamecocks also have the Women’s Freshman of the Week honoree with Viola Jepleting taking the title.
 
Men’s Athlete of the Week – Collins Kipkemboi, Kennesaw State – So. – Eldoret, Kenya
For his third Athlete of the Week honor, Kipkemboi finished third in a strong field at the Crimson Classic with a time of 23:19.7 in the 8K race. He finished ahead of runners from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Miami and Memphis among other programs. His efforts led the team to a seventh-place finish.
 
Men’s Freshman of the Week – Nelbat Kirwa, Jax State – Fr. – Eldoret, Kenya
Also earning his third weekly honor, Kirwa placed ninth in the Upstate Invitational and clocked a time of 24:42.8 in the event, finishing as the second-best freshman at the meet. Kirwa helped the Gamecocks to their second team title of the season by earning his second career top ten finish in Spartanburg. Jax State finished the meet 90 points ahead of runner-up Western Carolina.
 
Women’s Athlete of the Week – Allie Zealand, Liberty – So. – Forest, Va.
Zealand placed an impressive fifth of 339 women's runners at the Pre-National Invitational, helping the Lady Flames take ninth place in a field which featured six nationally ranked teams. Her 6K time of 19:40.4 broke the Liberty record by 10 seconds. This is her third Women’s Athlete of the Week honor of the season.
 
Women’s Freshman of the Week – Viola Jepleting, Jax State – Fr. – Eldoret, Kenya
Jepleting set a personal best 5K time on the way to earning the individual championship at the Upstate Invitational. Along with her individual title, Jepleting led a Jax State team that won its first team championship of the season in Spartanburg. Jepleting was the first Gamecock across the line with a time of 17:28.5, finishing ahead of teammates Mercy Jebet and Jepkirui Kurgoi who placed second and third respectively.
 
2025 Men’s Athlete of the Week
S2        Collins KipKemboi, Kennesaw State
S16       Allan Kiplagat, MTSU
S23       Nicholas Kiprotich, Liberty
S30       Meshack Kosgei, Jacksonville State
O7        Collins Kipkemboi, Kennesaw State
O14      Brayden Vining, LA Tech
O21      Collins Kipkemboi, Kennesaw State
 
2025 Men’s Freshman of the Week
S2         Nolan McGregor, Jacksonville State
S16       Nelbat Kirwa, Jacksonville State
S23       Eli Julian, Liberty
S30       Nelbat Kirwa, Jacksonville State
O7         Solomon Sayo, MTSU
O14       Brayden Vining, LA Tech
O21       Nelbat Kirwa, Jacksonville State
 
2025 Women’s Athlete of the Week
S2         Mercy Jebet, Jacksonville State
S16       Faith Nyathi, MTSU
S23       Allie Zealand, Liberty
S30       Valerie Lastra, FIU
O7         Allie Zealand, Liberty
O14      Delaney Lopez, LA Tech
O21       Allie Zealand, Liberty
 
2025 Women’s Freshman of the Week
S2         Mercy Jebet, Jacksonville State
S16       Jepkurui Kurgoi, Jacksonville State
S23       Mackenzie Babcock, Liberty
S30       Mercy Jebet, Jacksonville State
O7        Samantha McGarity, Kennesaw State
O14      Mallory Swint, LA Tech
O21      Viola Jepleting, Jacksonville State