NEW ORLEANS – Oredigger redshirt sophomore Dillon Powell was named the National Athlete of the Week on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) after winning the 2021 RMAC Cross Country Championship on Saturday.
 
Powell claimed individual gold and RMAC Runner of the Year distinction after traversing the 8,000-meter track set up at Applewood Golf Course in a time of 24:07.1. His finish was 19.9 seconds faster than second-place runner Afewerki Zeru out of UCCS. It was only the fourth collegiate cross country race of his career. Powell also fueled Mines' third straight team title and fifth in the last six years. The USTFCCCA award adds to a season resume which features two RMAC Runner of the Week honors and First-Team All-RMAC as well. Powell is the fourth male Oredigger student-athlete to earn National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season and the first since Dylan Ko won it last season.
 
As a team, the Oredigger men earned the team crown with a score of 28 and eight All-RMAC performances. Six of those performances garnered First-Team All-RMAC distinction and afforded Mines a 19-point advantage over runner-up Adams State. The Oredigger women took second place in their race thanks to 71 points fueled by Zoe Baker's fourth-place finish. Mines was just 31 points behind #1-ranked Adams State thanks to six All-RMAC runners.
 
The Orediggers will take one week off from competition before traveling to Lubbock, Texas, for the 2021 NCAA South Central Region Championships on Saturday, Nov. 6. A full preview and coverage information will be offered at www.minesathletics.com the week leading up to the event.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines cross country on Twitter and Instagram at @csmtrack. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.