KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association has announced new cross country athletes of the week for the 2026 men’s and women’s cross country seasons. Missouri Western’s Pau Valderrama was named the latest Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week while Missouri Southern’s Ruth Chemutai was named the women’s latest Cross Country Athlete of the Week.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Pau Valderrama, Missouri Western
Pau Valderrama led MoWest at the 37th Annual Southern Stampede last Saturday (Sept. 19), placing third overall in the men’s 8K with a time of 24:10.93. The senior from Sant Cugat Sesgarrigues, Spain, was the top MIAA finisher in a field that consisted of five MIAA teams and more than 220 collegiate runners. Valderrama was one of three Griffons to place within the top 15 as MoWest placed fourth overall among 28 teams.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ruth Chemutai, Missouri Southern
Ruth Chemutai posted a personal-best 5K time of 17:04.41 to capture the individual title at the 37th Annual Missouri Southern Stampede this past Saturday (Sept. 19) in Joplin. This individual championship marked the first of her collegiate career. Chemutai stopped the clock more than 12 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Pittsburg State’s Paige Mullen. Chemutai, a freshman, also led the No. 27-ranked Lions to a first-place team finish with 43 total points in the women's 24-team 5K race. Chemutai was also named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II Women's National Athlete of the Week, the organization announced this Monday.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Men’s Cross Country – Brody Deniston, Pittsburg State
Brody Deniston led the No. 19-ranked Gorillas to the finish line for the second time in as many meets this season, helping guide Pitt State to the team title in the MSSU Stampede last Saturday (Sept. 19). The freshman from Holcomb, Kan., placed sixth overall in the eight-kilometer race in 24:33.1 as four Gorillas finished among the top 15 individuals in the field of 309 athletes. The Gorillas finished with a low score of 56 points to beat the event’s runner-up and host, Missouri Southern (77 pts), by 21 points.
Women’s Cross Country – Paige Mullen, Pittsburg State
Paige Mullen placed second overall at the MSSU Stampede this past Saturday (Sept. 19), helping guide No. 9-ranked Pittsburg State to a second-place finish in the team standings. The senior from Overland Park, Kan., crossed the finish line in the 5K race in 17:16.6, finishing behind only Division II National Athlete of the Week, Missouri Southern’s Ruth Chemutai, who won the race in 17:04.5. The Gorillas placed four athletes in the top 15 in the race to post 50 points to place second overall behind MSSU (43 pts).
Women’s Cross Country – Olivia Bakker, Northwest Missouri
Olivia Bakker placed third overall at the Viking Invitational hosted by Grand View University last Saturday (Sept. 19) in Ankeny, Iowa. The junior from Overland Park, Kan., covered the 6K DMACC cross country course in a time of 23:22.82 to take third-place honors in a field of 100 runners.
ALSO NOMINATED:
MEN – Kelby Conner [Missouri Southern]
WOMEN – Lily Melton [Central Oklahoma], Magdalena Jakubowska [Missouri Western]
2026 MIAA CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
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