April 21, 2025
National Athlete of the Week is an award selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff at the beginning of each week to multiple collegiate Track and Field athletes, when applicable (male and female for each of the three NCAA divisions, the National Junior College divisions, and the NAIA).
Nominations are open to the public. Coaches and sports information directors are encouraged to nominate their student-athletes; as are student-athletes, their families and friends, and fans of their programs. Nominated athletes are noticed before those athletes found through searching TFRRS.
The award seeks to highlight not only the very best times, marks and scores on a week-to-week basis, but also performances that were significant on the national landscape and/or the latest in a series of strong outings. Quality of competition, suspenseful finishes and other factors will also play a role in the decision.
NCAA DIVISION I MEN – Habtom Samuel, New Mexico
Sophomore | Distance | Keren, Eritrea
Habtom Samuel was already one of the fastest men in collegiate history over 10,000 meters.
Now, the New Mexico standout is THE fastest man in collegiate history over 5000 meters outdoors
Samuel traversed 12½ laps in 13:05.87 at the Bryan Clay Invitational this past weekend and took down Abdihamid Nur’s three-year-old outdoor collegiate record. He, teammate Ishmael Kipkurui, California Baptist’s Valentin Soca and Washington State’s Evans Kurui had been running together through 3400 meters, but Samuel, Kipkurui and Soca dropped Kurui one lap later, then Samuel and Kipkurui left Soca to his own devices, and finally Samuel proved too strong over the final two laps and beat Kipkurui to the finish line by nearly four seconds.
It wasn’t a PR for Samuel, though, as he ran 13:04.92 indoors back on February 1 for the fourth fastest time in collegiate history on an all-dates basis. Nico Young still holds the absolute CR in the event at 12:57.14, a mark that he ran at the 2024 John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston.
This marks the fourth time in program history that male athlete from New Mexico has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week. Samuel joins Kiprkuri and two-time honoree Josh Kerr in that regard.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Doris Lemngole, Alabama
Sophomore | Distance | West Pokot County, Kenya
First throw. Best throw.
If you come at the Queen, you best not miss.
Doris Lemngole saw Pamela Kosgei come within 0.69 seconds of her collegiate record in the steeplechase two weeks ago at the Stanford Invitational: 9:15.24 to 9:15.93. Lemngole decided to put that record a bit further out of reach this past weekend at the Wake Forest Invitational.
The Alabama standout lowered her CR by more than five seconds to 9:10.13 and won the elite section by more than 17 seconds. Lemngole went out quick with a 69-second lap on her first full traverse of the 400-meter oval. Then Lemngole progressively slowed over the next four laps to 75.29 on her sixth lap before ratcheting it down with a 74.76 and 73.18 in the final 800 meters.
This marks the second time in her career that Lemngole has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Lemgnole previously earned national weekly honors on April 22, 2024. Overall, three different women from Alabama have been take home this award: Tamara Clark on April 27, 2021, and Remona Burchell on April 7, 2015.
NCAA DIVISION II MEN – William Amponsah, West Texas A&M
Senior | Distance | Agona Swedru, Central, Ghana
The NCAA DII 10,000 meter record stood for 17 years before this weekend. William Amponsah of West Texas A&M said no more!
The two-time cross country national champion crossed the line at the Bryan Clay Invitational in 27:47.93, dipping under the previous record by less than half a second. Scott Baus of Chico State set the time to beat in 2008 at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, running 27:48.06.
Just last year, Amponsah posted 28:00.09 at the Bryan Clay Invitational, which happened to be the fastest top-5 mark dating back to Baus’ performance. Evidently, the track, and the competition it congregates, is right in his wheelhouse. Amponsah’s effort has the senior sitting No. 10 on the all-college seasonal chart
This marks the sixth time a male athlete from West Texas A&M has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Amponsah joins Isaac Botsio, Quinton Sansing, Benjamin Azamati, Jahmaal Wilson, and Abraham Seaneke.
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Ava O’Connor, Adams State
Redshirt Junior | Distance | Emo, Ireland
Versatility.
Ava O’Connor helped define the term at the Bryan Clay Invitational, running 9:46.22 in the steeplechase and 4:15.31 in the 1500 meters.
The pair of marks put the redshirt junior at No. 3 & No. 10 on the NCAA DII all-time list, but that’s just the start. She’s only the second woman in NCAA DII history to own top-15 marks in those events. Who’s the other? Gracie Hyde of Adams State, the record holder in both, and O’Connor’s former teammate.
O’Connor’s steeplechase effort currently ranks eighth on the All-College Descending Order List and broke the U23 Irish national record.
This marks the third time a female athlete from Adams State has been named M-F National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. O’Connor joins Gracie Hyde and two-time honoree Eilish Flanagan.
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Sam Blaskowski, UW-La Crosse
Senior | Sprints | Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Have yourself a weekend, Sam Blaskowski.
The UW-La Crosse standout ventured to the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida, to compete against some of the best athletes in the nation in both the 100 meters and 200 meters. He more than held his own – like there was ever a doubt.
Blaskowski improved his PR in the half lap to 20.33 (+1.1) on Friday to cement his standing as the No. 2 performer in NCAA DIII history. Then, Blaskowski returned on Saturday and equaled his NCAA DIII record in the 100 at 10.13 (+1.9). Blaskowski came out of Heat 2 and finished fourth out of all athletes in the 200 meters and then was seventh in the 100 meters.
This is the fifth time in his career that Blaskowski has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Blaskowski previously earned national weekly honors twice in 2024 (April 15 and May 13) and twice in 2023 (April 11 and May 23).
NCAA DIVISION III MEN – Chasen Hunt, Lynchburg
Junior | Distance | Forest, Virginia
Chasen Hunt left nothing to chance at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
Hunt, who came within three seconds of taking down Alex Phillip’s NCAA DIII record in the indoor 3000 meters back in February, obliterated the former John Carroll standout’s all-time outdoor 5000-meter division best this past weekend in Azusa, California. The Lynchburg junior covered the distance in 13:41.96 and lopped off nearly six seconds from Phillip’s best from the Stanford Invitational in 2023.
This is the second time in program history that a male athlete from Lynchburg has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Hunt joins 2024 honoree Frank Csorba in that regard.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Lauren Jarrett, UW-La Crosse
Junior | Sprints | La Crosse, Wisconsin
Lauren Jarrett might own every single NCAA DIII sprint record at this rate.
Jarrett made quick work of 100 meters at the Bryan Clay Invitational this past weekend in Azusa, California. How quick? Try 11.29 seconds with a favorable 1.9 m/s tailwind. Jarrett shattered Michelle Kwafo’s two-year-old division best by 0.26 seconds – the exact same time difference that Jarrett beat the rest of the 65-athlete field in Azusa, California.
The UW-La Crosse standout raced four more times this past weekend: twice more as an individual in the 100 and 200 at the Beach Invite where she finished in 11.55 (-1.4) and PR 23.69 (-0.9), respectively; twice as part of the Eagles’s 4×100 relay.
This is the second year in a row that Jarrett has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Jarrett previously earned national weekly honors on May 20, 2024.
NAIA MEN – Evert Silva, Oklahoma City
Junior | Mid-Distance/Distance | Fresno, California
It was time for another NAIA record for Evert Silva, who nearly got a second one at the Brian Clay Invitational.
On Thursday night, Evert won the highly respected B section of the 5000 meters at Azusa Pacific, winning by over four seconds in 13:27.76 to break the 13:33.20 NAIA record held since 2014 by British Columbia’s Luc Bruchet. That also surpassed Evert’s own PR of 13:29.21, set while competing unattached in 2023.
Evert came back the following night and attacked another NAIA record – the 3:39.87 that he set last year. Despite having a 5k the night before, he was just off at 3:40.21.
This is the second time that an athlete from Oklahoma City has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Silva himself was honored last year in that regard.
NAIA WOMEN – Sonya Urbanowicz, British Columbia
Junior | Pole Vault | Nanaimo, British Columbia
It was a great weekend to pole vault for Sonya Urbanowicz.
She kicked things off Friday at the Brian Clay Invitational, where a third-attempt clearance at 4.15m (13-7¼) gave her the victory.
That performance was also a PR by 5cm and just shy of the 4.17m (13-8¼) NAIA record set a week earlier by Margherita Conrad of Siena Heights (Mich.).
Urbanowicz broke both of them on Saturday at the Beach Invitational in Long Beach, clearing 4.20m (13-9¼) on her third attempt to finish third in the Elite Division.
This is the fourth time that a female athlete from British Columbia has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Urbanowicz joins Olivia Lundman (last week), Kiana Gibson (2024) and Rachel Mortimer (2023) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION I MEN – Barnabas Ndiwa, Iowa Western CC
Sophomore | Distances | Trans Nzoia West, Kenyae
The first outdoor race of the year was worth the wait for Barnabas Ndiwa.
And it’s been since 1987 that any NJCAA athlete has run as fast as Ndiwa did over 10,000 meters at the Brian Clay Invitational. He completed 25 laps of the Azusa Pacific track in 28:52.64 for third in his section to become No. 2 on the all-time NJCAA list for 10,000 meters. Only the 28:35.0 by Mark Roberts of Central Arizona in 1987 is faster in NJCAA history.
The 28:52.64 represented a PR by over 28 seconds for Ndiwa, whose previous best was 29:21.55 from last year.
This is the second time that a male athlete from Iowa Western CC has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Ndiwa joins Strymar Livingston (2015) in that regard.
Co-NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – uliet Sakat, Iowa Western CC
Freshman | Mid-Distance | Greater Accra Region, Ghana
A new event meant yet another NJCAA all-time mark for Juliana Sakat.
This time it was the 10,000 meters and an NJCAA record by over a minute as Sakat competed in the fast section at the Brian Clay Invitational, placing ninth in 33:23.71. That took down the NJCAA (and Iowa Western program) record of 34:42.65 set by Faith Linga at the Drake Relays in 2021.
Sakat’s performance – her first of the outdoor season – added to her domination from indoors when she won four individual events at the NJCAA Indoor Championships. She rates among the NJCAA all-time top-10 in three indoor events, including the NJCAA record of 16:20.80 in the 5000
This is the third time that a female athlete from Iowa Western CC has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Sakat joins Miracle Ailes (2022) and Hilda Olemomoi (nee Chebet) (2022) in that regard.
co-NJCAA DIVISION I WOMEN – Cedricka Williams, Barton (Kan.) CC
Sophomore | Throws | Ocho Rios, Jamaica
There’s something special about the discus ring at Baylor for Cedricka Williams.
A year after setting one of her NJCAA records there last year, Williams returned to defend her title at the Michael Johnson Invitational. This year she won by more than two meters and twice sent the platter more than a meter further than her 57.80m (189-7) record last year – first at 59.16m (194-1) in Round 4 before a 59.46m (195-1) in Round 6.
Williams has now set or tied the NJCAA record five times include three efforts from last year.
Earlier in the day Williams also qualified for the NJCAA DI Outdoor Championships in the hammer with a PR 50.04m (164-2), rating No. 6 on the seasonal list.
This is the 12th time that a female athlete from Barton CC has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Williams was honored three times last year in joining Jazmine Williamson (2024), Kelsie Murrell-Ross (2022), Nia Robinson (2021 and 2022), Lashanna Grahm (2021), Yoveinny Mota (twice in 2019) and Lydia Mato (2015) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION III MEN – Alex Johnson, Joliet (Ill.) JC
Sophomore | Mid-Distances | Joliet, Illinois
The battle between the 400 and 800 meters got a lean in the longer distance for Alex Johnson after Wheaton’s Don Church Twilight Meet.
That’s because Johnson – the reigning NJCAA DIII Outdoor champion in the 400 – won the 800 in 1:53.95, the fastest known time in NJCAA DIII history. In the process he even defeated his teammate, Nathan Ciarlette, who was the previous seasonal DIII leader at 1:54.79.
Johnson is No. 3 on the yearly 400 list with his PR 49.35 and is a member of Joliet’s DIII-leading 4×400 relay team, which has run 3:21.04.
This is the third time that an athlete from Joliet JC has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Johnson joins Ciarlette, who was twice previously so honored this year.
NJCAA DIVISION III WOMEN – Ellie Logsdon, College of DuPage (Ill.)
Sophomore | Hurdles/Sprints | Genoa, Illinois
Ellie Logsdon has provided a chance to set a couple of things straight after we reported her massive PR in the 400-meter hurdles that made her M-F National Athlete of the Week.
That 1:03.12 was indeed a PR – just not the all-time NJCAA DIII known best we had thought.
Logsdon’s new PR – now 1:01.71 to win Wheaton’s Don Church Twilight Meet by more than four seconds – is the new fastest-ever DIII time. That surpasses the previous known best – and DuPage program record – of 1:02.72 by Elizabeth Hanses in 2002.
This is the eighth time that a female athlete from DuPage has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Logsdon herself was honored last week and once last year in joining Mia Tolbert (twice in 2021), Shaylinn Aver (2021), Emily Fetzer (2021) and Olivia Kalata (2021) in that regard.