NEC CROSS COUNTRY MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Aidan Budge, Central Connecticut
5th, Newtown, CT/Newtown
Budge made it three NEC Athlete of the Week nods in a row with an impressive second place finish at the New England Championships. The Newtown, CT native ran the 8K course in 24:18.7, besting all but one of the 206 runners he went up against. Budge outran harriers from the likes of Providence, Vermont, New Hampshire, Harvard, Bryant and Sacred Heart.
NEC CROSS COUNTRY MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Atley Phinney, Stonehill
Fr., Middleborough, MA/Middleborough
Phinney was the NEC's fastest freshman at the New England Championships, clocking in at 26:10.5. Phinney and the Skyhawks finished second as a team at the meet, only trailing Providence.
NEC CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Mya Morabito, Central Connecticut
4th, New Milford, CT/New Milford
Morabito has won three straight NEC Athlete of the Week awards and four of the five awarded this season. The fourth-year runner placed ninth out of 208 runners in the field with a 17:48.6 run over 5K, helping Central Connecticut finish eighth as a team.
NEC CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Gianna Marina Hartmann, LIU
Fr., Mahopac, NY/Mahopac
Marina Hartmann put forth a strong performance at the Metropolitan Championships, finishing third in a field of 50 runners. The Mahopac, NY product ran the 5K course in 18:09.7, leading LIU to a fourth place team finish at the meet.
NEC MEN'S PRIME PERFORMERS
Aidan Budge, 5th, CCSU - 2nd/207 at New England Championships - 24:18.7 (8K)
Dylan Manning, So., FDU - 6th/45 at Metropolitan Championships - 25:46.4 (8K)
Kidus Zeleke, Jr., FDU - 2nd/45 at Metropolitan Championships - 25:23.7 (8K)
Ryan Bailor, Jr., LIU - 10th/45 at Metropolitan Championships - 26:12.5 (8K)
Brian Masai, Jr., LIU - 1st/45 at Metropolitan Championships - 24:32.8 (8K)
Dylan Brilliant, Sr., STO - 13th/207 at New England Championships - 25:18.1 (8K), 38th/302 at Paul Short Run - 24:49.6 (8K)
Ethan Fadden, Jr., STO - 9th/207 at New England Championships - 25:07.1 (8K), 158th/302 at Paul Short Run - 26:01.7 (8K)
Ryan Pereira, Sr., STO - 10th/207 at New England Championships - 25:07.8 (8K), 116th/302 at Paul Short Run - 25:42.1 (8K)
NEC WOMEN'S PRIME PERFORMERS
Ellie Ballard, 1st, CCSU - 37th/208 at New England Championships - 18:45.2 (5K)
Mya Morabito, 4th, CCSU - 9th/208 at New England Championships - 17:48.6 (5K)
Lillian Tabellione, 3rd, CCSU - 16th/208 at New England Championships - 18:07.0 (5K)
Ally Carillo, Sr., LIU - 5th/50 at Metropolitan Championships - 18:18.8 (5K)
Gianna Marina Hartmann, Fr., LIU - 3rd/50 at Metropolitan Championships - 18:09.7 (5K)
Jordan Malloy, Sr., STO - 22nd/208 at New England Championships - 18:18.9 (5K)
2026 NEC CROSS COUNTRY WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:
MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 10: Brian Masai, LIU
Sept. 16: Brendan Wilder, STO
Sept. 23: Aidan Budge, CCSU & Brendan Wilder, STO
Sept. 30: Aidan Budge, CCSU
Oct. 14: Aidan Budge, CCSU
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 10: Mya Morabito, CCSU
Sept. 16: Jordan Malloy, STO
Sept. 23: Mya Morabito, CCSU
Sept. 30: Mya Morabito, CCSU
Oct. 14: Mya Morabito, CCSU
MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 10: Connor Garrett, CCSU
Sept. 16: Ronald Ciaccia, WAG
Sept. 23: Connor Garrett, CCSU
Sept. 30: Connor Garrett, CCSU
Oct. 14: Atley Phinney, STO
WOMEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 10: Gianna Marina Hartman, LIU
Sept. 16: Kyra Florio-Marinello, STO
Sept. 23: Ellie Ballard, CCSU
Sept. 30: Ellie Ballard, CCSU
Oct. 14: Gianna Marina Hartman, LIU