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 23. Puma Jackson Bland was named the NJCAA Division II Male Athlete of the Week after his 4th place finish at the University of California Riverside Invitational on Saturday, Septmeber 21.
As published by the USTFCCCA and M-F Athletic
NEW ORLEANS, LA -
How much can someone improve in one year?
In Jackson Bland's case, it's 161 places or one minute and 6.5 seconds. That's how much better and faster he performed in the UC Riverside Invitational, his first race this year and last year.
This year Bland was the third collegian in finishing fourth as the leading JUCO runner, covering 8k at the UCR Agricultural Operations Course in 24:44.2 (last year he was 165th in 25:50.7).
Bland led the Pumas – ranked No. 13 in the latest NJCAA DII National Coaches' Poll – to a 10th-place finish among a field of mostly four-year schools. Paradise Valley will likely move up as they were behind only eighth-place Mesa (Ariz.) – ranked No. 3 – among NJCAA programs and ahead of reigning California CC champ Mt. SAC.
This is the second time that a male athlete from Paradise Valley has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Bland joins 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.
