New Orleans, LA -- Making a major statement in his first 8k race for Academy of Art University this past weekend, junior Valentin Pepiot has been named National Division II Athlete of the Week by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). A stellar sixth place finish among 362 athletes at the Stanford Invitational immediately put Pepiot into the national conversation.

Offering a time of 23:42.8 over the stretch around the Stanford Golf Course, Pepiot stayed with a 4:47 pace to contend with tough NCAA Division I talent and ended up first among non-DI athletes. He was 10th at the 3k split before moving up to sixth with just two kilometers to go – a distance he covered faster than all but four runners. The Frenchman finally wedged in between UC Santa Barbara's Bryan Guijarro in fifth and UC Riverside's Seth Totten in sixth. The next closest was DII competitor was Chico State's top finisher in 14th place overall.

"Wow it's wonderful to have this honor," Pepiot said. "I'm very proud knowing that the USA coaches have appreciated my performance and spotted me! I will work hard to achieve more this season."

Pepiot and the ART U squads return to action in the SF State Invitational back at Golden Gate Park on Oct. 10.