DALLAS  – Kennesaw State earns two Athlete of the Week honors in Collins Kipkemboi (Men’s Athlete of the Week) and Samantha McGarity (Women’s Freshman of the Week), while Middle Tennessee’s Solomon Sayo is named Freshman of the Week and Liberty’s Allie Zealand is named Women’s Athlete of the Week.
 
Men’s Athlete of the Week – Collins Kipkemboi, Kennesaw State – Jr. – Eldoret, Kenya
For his second Athlete of the Week honor this season, Kipkemboi finished second out of 326 athletes in the 8K with a time of 23:38.1 at the Louisville Cross Country Classic. He finished ahead of runners from MTSU, Eastern Kentucky, Arkansas State, ETSU among others, and led the Owls to a 12th place finish overall. 
 
Men’s Freshman of the Week – Solomon Sayo, MTSU – Fr.
Sayo made a major impact on MTSU’s team victory Saturday. The freshman surged through the field after passing the 2.1k mark in 53rd place, moving all the way up to eighth at the 3.9k split. He finished just outside the top 10 in 12th place with a time of 23:55.1, helping secure the team title in Louisville.
 
Women’s Athlete of the Week – Allie Zealand, Liberty – So. – Forest, Va.
Zealand finished as the women's 5K runner-up at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, crossing the finish line just 1.6 seconds behind the race champion in the field of 180 competitors. Her time of 15:54.7 set a new program record (shattering the previous record by 20.4 seconds) and was the 2nd-fastest time in the meet's 38-year history. Zealand’s efforts led the Lady Flames to fifth place in the 20-team women's field. This is her second Athlete of the Week honor on the season.
 
Women’s Freshman of the Week – Samantha McGarity, Kennesaw State – Fr. – Kennesaw, Ga.
McGarity helped lead KSU to its first team title since 2009 after finishing eighth in the 6k Blue race at the Louisville Cross Country Classic. She was the first freshman to cross the finish line, coming in with a time of 21:42.6.
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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