The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USFTCCCA) along with M-F Athletic announced the M-F Athletic National Athletes of the Week for the week of September 15. Puma Brady Eagar was named the NJCAA Division II Male Athlete of the Week after his 17th place finish at the Cougar Challenge at Cal State San Marcos on Saturday, September 13.
As published by the USTFCCCA and M-F Athletic
NEW ORLEANS, LA -
There's sure to be a shakeup in the next NJCAA DII rankings, thanks to Brady Eagar of Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC.
Eagar was the top JUCO finisher at the Cougar Challenge at Cal State San Marcos, finishing 17th in 25:06.3 over 8k as the No. 6-ranked Pumas finished ahead of rival Mesa (Ariz.) CC, currently No. 2.
Interestingly, Eagar went to high school in Mesa at Mountain View. This is his first collegiate cross country season after sitting out last fall, although he ran 14:59.09 for 5000 on the track last spring as a member of Salt Lake (Utah) CC's distance crew.
This is the fourth time that a male athlete from Paradise Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Eagar joins Jackson Bland (twice in 2024) and Gilbert Olivas (2022) in that regard.
Congratulations Brady!
National Athlete of the Week is an award selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff at the beginning of each week to 14 collegiate cross country athletes, when applicable (male and female for each of the three NCAA divisions, the NAIA and the NJCAA).
Nominations are open to the public. Coaches and sports information directors are encouraged to nominate their student-athletes; as are student-athletes, their families and friends, and fans of their programs. Nominated athletes are noticed before those athletes found through searching TFRRS.
The award seeks to highlight not only the very best times, marks and scores on a week-to-week basis, but also performances that were significant on the national landscape and/or the latest in a series of strong outings. Quality of competition, suspenseful finishes and other factors will also play a role in the decision.
