USTFCCCA National Athletes of the Week (Oct. 25)

NEW ORLEANS -- After hoisting both the Pacific West Conference Women's Cross Country Individual and Team Championships this past weekend in Hawaii, senior Natalia Novak became the first runner in the history of the Academy of Art women's cross country program to be named NCAA Division II National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

In a 6k race through the Kahuku Golf Course that saw numerous lead changes throughout on Oct. 23, Novak reached the first of two splits in fourth and less than a second behind the leader, Biola's Lynette Ruiz. After exchanging the top spot with Ruiz, Novak was still just a fraction of a second back by the second split. Then, over the final 2k, Novak not only grabbed the lead, but eventually crossed the finish line four seconds ahead of Ruiz, taking first of 80 total runners with a time of 22:15.1.

"I never really thought I would be a PacWest champion in cross country since my distance is more 1500m and 800m," Novak said. "It took a lot of hard work being champion on the track and cross country is a completely different thing so you have to change the training, but it all came together with Coach Bruce [Jackson]."

Tied for third in program history with her sixth career top 10 finish in just two seasons, Novak became the third individual PacWest champion in program history behind Jenny Bergren's 2012 title and the one graduate student Hasna Kaarour won most recently in 2019.

"Hasna led the way two years ago and since Natalia came into the program, they have worked together, pushed each other at practice, and helped learn from one another," said Interim Head Coach Bruce Jackson. "I'm very happy for Natalia continuing on from her All-American track season and this cross country season is an indicative precursor to a great track season."

This is the first USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honor for Novak in her ART U career and the first by an Urban Knight women's cross country runner to date. Only men's cross country runners Gatien Ariau (Oct. 9, 2017) and Valentin Pepiot (Sept. 29, 2014) have earned selections previously.