Iowa Central cross country runners Awet Yohannes and Winrose Chesang were named USTFCCCA National Athletes of the Week.

Yohannes, a sophomore from Sweden, won his first race of the year, holding off a pair from host NCAA Division III UW-La Crosse in 24:41.2 for the 8K title at the Jim Drews Invitational. His time was a personal record in the race.

Last year in track, Yohannes was the national runner-up in the steeplechase after winning the 3000 indoors.

Chesang, a sophomore from Kenya, is the top runner for the nationás top-ranked team looking for a three-peat as national champions.

This is the first National Athlete of the Week award for a male runner outside of the state of Kansas this season.

She was an easy winner in her first victory of the year at the Tori Neubauer Invitational, covering 6k in 21:02.6. Her time was a school record in the race.

This is her second time as National Athlete of the Week in her career, having also earned the honor last year on Sept. 24.