USTFCCCA National Athletes of the Week
 
NEW ORLEANS – Mines cross country star Grace Strongman was named National Athlete of the Week Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) after she won individual gold and anchored a team title at the Lucian Rosa Invite on Saturday in Wisconsin.
 
It marks Strongman's first weekly award of any sort in her collegiate career. She claimed the honor after traversing the 6,000-meter tract at the Wayne E Dannehl National Cross Country Course on the campus of Wisconsin Parkside in 20:36.8. Her average mile pace was 5:31.7, and she anchored a 1-2-3 finish for the Orediggers with teammates Emily LaMena and Margaux Basart right behind. Strongman's performance also helped Mines' women win the team title with 51 points in an upset of #1 Adams State which tallied 77 team points. The race was also a national preview as the 2025 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships will be run at the same course in November. The last Oredigger to win USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week was Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge who claimed the accolade twice last season. Strongman's first-place finish Saturday was also her first collegiate win in cross country or track & field.
 
The next action for the Oredigger cross country teams will be the FHSU Tiger Open on Oct. 11 in Hays, Kan. full preview and any live coverage information will be released the week leading up to the event.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines cross country on "X" (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @csmtrack. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.