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 October 6. Pumas Brady Eagar and Laynee Hollech were named the NJCAA Division II Male and Female Athlete of the Week after their performaces at the Chili Pepper Cross Country Festival at the University of Arkansas on Saturday, October 4.
As published by the USTFCCCA and M-F Athletic
NEW ORLEANS, LA -
NJCAA DIVISION II MEN – Brady Eagar, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
Brady Eagar didn't let the strongest field he's seen this year dishearten him.
Eagar was the top NJCAA DII finisher at Chile Pepper Festival, clocking 25:25.0 for 8k at Agri Park while finishing 77th in the McDonnell Memorial race that was loaded with runners from four-year programs along with two top-10-ranked NJCAA DI teams.
Eagar anchors the Pumas, ranked No. 2 in NJCAA DII.
This is the fifth time that a male student-athlete from Paradise Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Eagar was honored earlier this year in joining Jackson Bland (twice in 2024) and Gilbert Olivas (2022) in that regard.
NJCAA DIVISION II WOMEN – Laynee Hollech, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC
Laynee Hollech traveled more than 1,000 miles with her No. 1-ranked Paradise Valley CC teammates to the Chile Pepper Festival.
And Hollech performed well in the top-rated Harter's Habanero race, finishing 68th as the top NJCAA DII runner in 18:04.6 over the 5k course at Agri Park in a race chockful of four-year programs.
Her Pumas also impressed as a team, finishing ahead of Crowder (Mo.), which is No. 5 NJCAA DI.
This is the first time that a female student-athlete from Paradise Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country.
Congratulations Brady and Laynee!
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.
