DALLAS  – Jacksonville State takes three Athlete of the Week honors with Meshack Kosgei (Men’s Athlete of the Week), Nelbat Kirwa (Men’s Freshman of the Week) and Mercy Jebet (Women’s Freshman of the Week), while FIU’s Valerie Lastra is named the Women’s Athlete of the Week.

Men’s Athlete of the Week – Meshack Kosgei – Jax State – So. – Kitale, Kenya
Kosgei was the first Jax State individual to cross the finish line in this past weekend's Gans Creek Classic hosted by Missouri. He turned in a time of 24:20.8, good enough for 40th place in the Men's 8K Black race. Kosgei's time is the sixth best 8K mark in school history and the second best mark in the past 15 years. The Gans Creek Classic featured 14 of the USTFCCCA Top-25 teams and will be the host site of the 2025 NCAA National Championship.

Men’s Freshman of the Week – Nelbat Kirwa – Jax State – Fr. – Eldoret, Kenya
For his second Freshman of the Week honor, Kirwa placed 73rd in a field of 253 at the Gans Creek Classic this past weekend with an 8K time of 24:36.5. He was the second Gamecock to cross the finish line and helped Jax State place 14th out of 26 teams in the Men's 8K Black race.

Women’s Athlete of the Week – Valerie Lastra – FIU – Sr. – Miami, Fla.
Lastra led the Panthers at the FSU XC Invitational (6K), finishing 11th with a time of 21:12.7 for her first meet of the season. She helped FIU to an eighth place finish among 36 competing teams.

Women’s Freshman of the Week – Mercy Jebet – Jax State – Fr. – Eldoret, Kenya
In a race that featured nine USTFCCCA Top-25 programs at the Gans Creek Classic in Missouri, Jebet took home 18th place in the Women's 6K Black race, helping the Jax State women to an 11th place team finish out of 26 clubs. Jebet crossed the finish line with a time of 21:05.7, the second best 6K time in Jax State's program history. Jebet has now led Jax State individually in two of three meets so far this season. This is her second Freshman of the Week honor and third honor overall this season.
 
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
 
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
 
2025 Women’s Athlete of the Week
S2         Mercy Jebet, Jacksonville State
S16       Faith Nyathi, MTSU
S23       Allie Zealand, Liberty
S30       Valerie Lastra, FIU
 
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