RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the men’s and women’s cross country runners of the week for the sixth week of the 2024 season. Harding’s Josphat Meli earned the men’s accolade and Ouachita Baptist’s Macie Cash claimed the women’s honor.
#theGAC MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Josphat Meli, Fr., Harding, Eldoret, Kenya
Meli ran to his second individual title of the season as he won the 8K race at the UAH Chargers XC Invitational with a time of 23:17.8. He finished more than 13 seconds ahead of his closest competitor. He broke his own GAC record by almost 16 seconds. The Bisons finished seventh in the 35-team event.
#theGAC WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Macie Cash, Sr., Ouachita Baptist, Greenwood, Arkansas
Cash led the Tigers to a team title at the Tiger Invite. She finished second overall, but first among attached runners with a time of 18:24.2 She finished 32 seconds ahead of the closest Division II runner. The Tigers won the event by 10 points after placing six runners inside the top 10.
OTHERS NOMINATED
Christian Franklin, Jr. (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Whit Lawrence, Sr. (Ouachita Baptist), Lyndon Orr, Fr. (Southern Arkansas), Maxamillian Wheeler, Gr. (Oklahoma Baptist)
Anjelika Abraham, Jr. (Southeastern Oklahoma State), Josie Parks, Jr. (Harding), Jamaira Ross, Sr. (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Ava Zindler, Jr. (Southern Arkansas)
A three-person committee selects all GAC Athlete of the Week awards