USTFCCCA National Athletes of the Week
 
NEW ORLEANS – Dawson Gunn earned the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association's National Athlete of the Week award Monday after winning individual gold at the 2026 RMAC Cross Country Championships.
 
Gunn finished first with an 8K time of 23:17.3 after dropping the hammer on the rest of the field across the last 2K of the race. He crossed the finish line 9.4 seconds ahead of RMAC runner-up Brett Davis from UCCS. His performance anchored Mines' runner-up finish in the team standings which saw the Orediggers post 48 points, just 15 back of team champion Adams State. The national honor is the first of Gunn's career and the 10th ever for Mines' men. Other Orediggers to claim the award are three-time winner Dillon Powell, two-time honoree Dylan Ko, two-time winner Grant Colligan, and two-time winner Nathanael Williams.
 
Mines now turns its focus to the NCAA South Central Regional Championships which will be run on Saturday, Nov. 21, in Lubbock, Texas.
 
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.