DALLAS – Liberty collected three Conference USA Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors alongside one recipient from Delaware.
CUSA Women's Athlete of the Week – Allie Zealand, Liberty – Jr. – Forest, Va.
Zealand placed a team-best fourth out of 315 finishers in Friday's Paul Short Run women's 6K gold race, crossing the finish line in 20:15.1. She led the Lady Flames to their first-ever team title at the event, as Liberty topped a field of 37 women's teams, including 21 regionally-ranked squads.
CUSA Men's Athlete of the Week – Ethan Pedersen, Liberty – Sr. – Redmond, Wash.
Pedersen served as Liberty's No. 1 runner for the first time in his career during Friday's Paul Short Run men's 8K gold race, finishing 14th of 302 finishers in a time of 24:19.8. He helped the Flames finish eighth of 35 men's teams in a field that included 19 regionally-ranked squads.
CUSA Women's Freshman of the Week – Julia Flanagan, Delaware – Fr. – Riverton, N.J.
Flanagan placed 54th overall in the gold race at the Paul Short Run on Friday with a time of 21:41.70. Her time was the fastest 6K time amongst CUSA freshman competitors at the meet. Flanagan’s placement is the second-best in program history at that event.
CUSA Men's Freshman of the Week – Malachi Burnett, Liberty – Fr. – Canton, Ga.
Burnett placed 47th of 302 finishers in the Paul Short Run men's 8K gold race on Friday, breaking 25 minutes for the first time in his career with a time of 24:57.7. He finished ninth among freshmen and helped Liberty finish eighth overall.
2026 Women’s Athlete of the Week
S8 Evalyne Wambui, MTSU
S15 Evalyne Wambui, MTSU
S22 Viola Jepleting, Jax State
S29 Evalyne Wambui, MTSU
O6 Allie Zealand, Liberty
2026 Men’s Athlete of the Week
S8 Allan Kiplagat, MTSU
S15 Allan Kiplagat, MTSU
S22 Linus Chepkochei, Jax State
S29 Allan Kiplagat, MTSU
O6 Ethan Pedersen, Liberty
2026 Women’s Freshman of the Week
S8 Mercy Sergon, Jax State
S15 Viviana Salonia, MTSU
S22 Mercy Sergon, Jax State
S29 Gladys Muriithi, MTSU
O6 Julia Flanagan, Delaware
2026 Men’s Freshman of the Week
S8 Shadrack Kipkurgat, Jax State
S15 N/A
S22 Shadrack Kipkurgat, Jax State
S29 Edger Ngibe, MTSU
O6 Malachi Burnett, Liberty