NEC CROSS COUNTRY MEN'S CO-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Aidan Budge, Central Connecticut
5th, Newtown, CT/Newtown
In a meet that hosted four NEC teams, Aidan Budge emerged as the best of the bunch at the LIU Fall Festival. The 2025 NEC Championship runner up placed first in a field of 52 runners with a 24:26.26 result over the 8K course. Budge paced a Blue Devils side that finished first as a team at the event, ahead of LIU, Wagner and FDU.
Brendan Wilder, Stonehill
Sr., Waltham, MA/Waltham
Wilder earned a second consecutive NEC Athlete of the Week nod thanks to yet another excellent performance. The senior ran a 24:31.82 time over 8K and placed second out of 240 entrants at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational. Wilder's performance, combined with strong efforts from Dylan Brilliant and Ryan Pereira, topped a Stonehill squad that placed first as a team at the meet, besting the likes of UMass Lowell, Holy Cross, New Hampshire, Merrimack, Bryant and New Haven.
NEC CROSS COUNTRY MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Connor Garrett, Central Connecticut
2nd, Hamden, CT/Hamden
Garrett finished sixth at the LIU Fall Festival over the weekend, crossing the line at 26:14.97. The Hamden, CT native posted his best finish at a meet thus far in his young career and earned his second NEC Rookie of the Week nod of the season.
NEC CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Mya Morabito, Central Connecticut
4th, New Milford, CT/New Milford
Morabito is another CCSU repeat award winner who had a strong showing last week. She paced the 38-runner field at the LIU Fall Festival with a 21:50.43 6K. Morabito's efforts helped the Blue Devils top the team standings of a field that included four NEC sides.
NEC CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Ellie Ballard, Central Connecticut
1st, Hebron, CT/RHAM
Ballard collected her first Rookie of the Week award with a strong showing at the LIU Fall Festival. The Hebron, CT product ran a 22:45.73 6K, placing fourth at the meet.
NEC MEN'S PRIME PERFORMERS
Aidan Budge, 5th, CCSU - 1st/52 at LIU Fall Festival - 24:26.6 (8K)
Thomas Flanders IV, 3rd, CCSU - 5th/52 at LIU Fall Festival - 26:11.82 (8K)
Connor Garrett, 2nd, CCSU - 6th/52 at LIU Fall Festival - 26:14.97 (8K)
Michael Kraszewski, 4th, CCSU - 4th/52 at LIU Fall Festival - 24:26.6 (8K)
Carson Campbell, Jr., LEM - 11th/212 at Yellow Jacket Invite - 25.44.6 (8K)
Brian Masai, So., LIU - 2nd/52 at LIU Fall Festival - 24:45.27 (8K)
Joshua Roos, Sr., LIU - 3rd/52 at LIU Fall Festival - 26:05.23 (8K)
Dylan Brilliant, Sr., STO - 3rd/240 at UMass Dartmouth Invitational - 24:34.76 (8K)
Ryan Pereira, Sr., STO - 7th/240 at UMass Dartmouth Invitational - 24:46.85 (8K)
Brendan Wilder, Sr., STO - 2nd/240 at UMass Dartmouth Invitational - 24:31.82 (8K)
NEC WOMEN'S PRIME PERFORMERS
Ellie Ballard, 1st, CCSU - 4th/38 at LIU Fall Festival - 22:45.73 (6K)
Mya Morabito, 4th, CCSU - 1st/38 at LIU Fall Festival - 21:50.43 (6K)
Lillian Tabellione, 3rd, CCSU - 2nd/38 at LIU Fall Festival - 22:12.71 (6K)
Isabella O'Donnell, Jr., LEM - 2nd/27 at Frank Dillon Invitational - 15:18.5 (4K)
Ally Carillo, Sr., LIU- 6th/38 at LIU Fall Festival - 23:04.12 (6K)
Gianna Marina Hartman, Fr., LIU - 5th/38 at LIU Fall Festival - 22:50.08 (6K)
Rylee Ferretti, Sr., WAG - 3rd/38 at LIU Fall Festival - 22:39.84 (6K)
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
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 10: Mya Morabito, CCSU
Sept. 16: Jordan Malloy, STO
Sept. 23: Mya Morabito, CCSU
MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 10: Connor Garrett, CCSU
Sept. 16: Ronald Ciaccia, WAG
Sept. 23: Connor Garrett, CCSU
WOMEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 10: Gianna Marina Hartman, LIU
Sept. 16: Kyra Florio-Marinello, STO
Sept. 23: Ellie Ballard, CCSU