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 21. Puma Jackson Bland was named the NJCAA Division II Male Athlete of the Week for the second time this season after his 14th place finish at the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse Drews/Neubauer Invitational on Saturday, October 19.
As published by the USTFCCCA and M-F Athletic
Jackson Bland ventured into the Great Lakes area for a second year in a row – a healthy distance for he and his No. 3-ranked Pumas based in Arizona
As he's done all year, Bland was again impressively better than last year, taking 14th place as the leading JUCO runner in the Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational, covering 8k in 25:33.0.
Bland was 13.4 seconds faster than on the same course last year. Seven of those ahead of him are part of the NCAA DIII No. 1 UW-La Crosse squad.
This is the third time that a male athlete from Paradise Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Bland earned the honor earlier this year in joining Gilbert Olivas (2022) in that regard.
Congratulations Jackson!
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.