By: USTFCCCA
Full Release: http://www.ustfccca.org/2017/09/featured/ncaa-njcaa-xc-national-athletes-of-the-week-september-18
NEW ORLEANS – Like a train with no brakes going downhill, the cross country season is picking up speed.
The same can be said about our National Athletes of the Week in NCAA Cross Country and NJCAA Cross Country. Course records fell and others put the rest of their divisions on notice with strong performances.
- NJCAA Division I Men – Karim Achengli, Iowa Cental CC
- NJCAA Division I Women – Adva Cohen, Iowa Cental CC
National Athlete of the Week is an award selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff at the beginning of each week to 10 collegiate cross country athletes (male and female for each of the three NCAA divisions and two NJCAA divisions).
NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Karim Achengli, Iowa Central CC
Sophomore | Adra, Spain
This isn't Karim Achengli's first National Athlete of the Week honor of the season. And judging by the way he's competed this year, it won't be his last.
The native of Adra, Spain, won the Michigan State Spartan Invitational 8K with a time of 24:31.7, besting athletes from Michigan State, Grand Valley State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan and others. Iowa Central CC was the top NJCAA squad on the afternoon, and finished third overall behind Michigan State and GVSU, thanks in large part to Achengli's dominance over the 360-plus competitors.
NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Adva Cohen, Iowa Central CC
Freshman | Jerusalem, Israel
Adva Cohen has continued to dominate on the cross country circuit. The product out of Jerusalem, Israel, was the top NJCAA finisher at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational 6K with an 11th-place finish.
Cohen's time of 22:02.8 came against a slew of NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II talent in a race that featured more than 300 athletes.