Contact: Kerry Kahl, Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications, Cornell College kkahl@cornellcollege.edu

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – Fresh off a prized victory at Saturday's Interregional Invitational, Cornell senior Isaac vanWestrienen has been selected the NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
VanWestrienen won the Gold Race in an elite field of 339 finishers that showcased 17 nationally-ranked teams at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill. He clocked a lifetime-best 8K mark of 23:57.
 
VanWestrienen is Cornell's first male athlete to claim the national award for cross country. Former NCAA women's champion Abrah Masterson garnered the prestigious honor on Sept. 7, 2016.
 
A two-time NCAA cross country qualifier, vanWestrienen outkicked UW-La Crosse's Grant Matthai over the final 400 meters to capture Saturday's individual crown. Matthai, who placed third at nationals a year ago, crossed four seconds behind vanWestrienen.
 
Saturday's top 10 featured five all-Americans from the 2024 NCAA Championships.
 
VanWestrienen now owns 10 top-five finishes since 2023. He'll be the favorite to defend his Midwest Conference individual title in the team's next competition Nov. 1 at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids.