Cross Country

California Baptist's Mulugeta and Utah Valley's Kipsirat Take Home First Weekly Awards of the Season

All-Time Big West Cross Country Weekly Winners >>>
Men's Athlete of the Week
Yemane Mulugeta, California Baptist | Sophomore • Surrey, B.C., Canada
23645
  • California Baptist's Yemane Mulugeta won the men's race at the USF Invitational to claim The Big West Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week award. It is Mulugeta's first career weekly honor. 
     
  • The sophomore took first out of 189 competitors, completing the 8K course in 23:52.8. 
     
  • Mulugeta's individual win led the Lancers to claim the team title. 

    Also Nominated: Noah Chairez (Cal State Fullerton), Oliver Clippinger-Zimmerman (UC San Diego), Cameron Gill (Long Beach State), Dheeraj Gurusamy (Cal Poly), Eshaan Hussain (UC Riverside), Sila Kiplagat (Utah Valley), Ryan Martin (Long Beach State), Will Mulliken (UC Santa Barbara).
Defensive Player of the Week
Caren Kipsirat, Utah Valley | Freshman • Iten, Kenya
23846
  • Utah Valley's Caren Kipsirat was the runner-up finished at the UVU Invitational to earn The Big West Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week honor. This is the first career weekly honor from the conference for Kipsirat.
     
  • The freshman took second, only behind 2025 national runner-up Jane Hedengren, with a 3-mile time of 15:41.42. 
     
  • Utah Valley took second as a team. 

    Also Nominated: Makayla Anderson (UC Riverside), Tatiana Cornejo (Cal Poly), Ava Leisenfelder (Cal State Bakersfield), Elle Marsyla (UC San Diego), Helena Mees (California Baptist), Makena Oliva (Cal State Fullerton), Addie Oversmith (UC Santa Barbara), Taylor Wellersdick (Sacramento State), Brooke Willoughby (Long Beach State).