KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced its final cross country athletes of the week in the 2026 men’s and women’s seasons. Rogers State’s Thomas Kubala was named the final Athlete of the Week on the men’s side, and Washburn’s Nully Puente claimed the final Athlete of the Week honor on the women’s.
 
 MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:  Thomas Kubala, Rogers State
Thomas Kubala secured his first collegiate victory last Saturday (Oct. 24) at the Griffon Open in St. Joseph, Missouri. The junior from Conroe, Texas, won the men’s eight-kilometer race in 25:30.1, finishing just 4.8 seconds ahead of the individual runner-up, Pittsburg State’s Zach Anderson.
 
 WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:  Nelly Puente, Washburn  
Nelly Puente paced all MIAA women at the Griffon Open this past Saturday (Oct. 24), hosted by Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Missouri. Puente, a freshman from Wichita, Kansas, finished the women’s five-kilometer race in fourth place with a time of 18:23.9.
 
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Men’s Cross Country – Zach Anderson, Pittsburg State
Zach Anderson placed second overall in Missouri Western’s Griffon Open last Saturday (Oct. 24). The freshman from Olathe, Kansas crossed the finish line in 25:34.9 in the 8k race, trailing only Rogers State's Thomas Kubala.
 
ALSO NOMINATED:
MEN – Nathan Johnson [Nebraska Kearney], Chase Sorrell [Missouri Southern]
WOMEN – Ruth Chemutai [Missouri Southern]
 

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WEEK ONE (Sept. 9):
MEN’S – Jaden Deaton, Missouri Southern
WOMEN’S – Katie Hughes, Newman
 
WEEK TWO (Sept. 22):
MEN’S – Pau Valderrama, Missouri Western
WOMEN’S – Ruth Chemutai, Missouri Southern 
 
WEEK THREE (Oct. 13):
MEN’S – Dylan Sprecker, Pittsburg State
WOMEN’S – Katie Hughes, Newman  
 
WEEK FOUR (Oct. 27):
MEN’S – Thomas Kubala, Rogers State
WOMEN’S – Nelly Puente, Washburn