NEC Cross Country Release (9/30) - NEC Skip To Main Content
The Official Site of the NEC
The Official Site of the NEC
#NECPride365

Schedule

Members

NEC Cross Country Release (9/30)

9/30/2026


NEC Men's Athlete of the Week: Aidan Budge, CCSU
NEC Men's Rookie of the Week: Connor Garrett, CCSU
NEC Women's Athlete of the Week: Mya Morabito, CCSU
NEC Women's Rookie of the Week: Ellie Ballard, CCSU

Previous NEC Releases: September 23 | September 16 | September 10 | Men's Preseason Poll Release | Women's Preseason Poll Release

NEC CROSS COUNTRY MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK 
Aidan Budge, Central Connecticut
5th, Newtown, CT/Newtown
Budge earned his second consecutive NEC Athlete of the Week accolade after winning the annual Ted Owen Invite on Saturday. The Newtown, CT native crossed the finish line at 24:55.0 over the 8K course and helped guide the Blue Devils to a second place finish as a team. 

NEC CROSS COUNTRY MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Connor Garrett, Central Connecticut
2nd, Hamden, CT/Hamden
Garrett continued his outstanding rookie season with a fourth place finish at the Ted Owen Invite. He picked up his third NEC Rookie of the Week nod in four weeks due to his 26:10.10 result and was third among collegiate entrants. 

NEC CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Mya Morabito, Central Connecticut
4th, New Milford, CT/New Milford
Morabito collected her third weekly award in four weeks by finishing third at the Ted Owen Invite and first among collegiate runners. The New Milford, CT product ran a 22:04.7 6K in what was yet another strong performance. 
  
NEC CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Ellie Ballard, Central Connecticut
1st, Hebron, CT/RHAM
Ballard made it back-to-back NEC Rookie of the Week honors with an eighth place finish at the Ted Owen Invite. She was the sixth fastest collegiate runner and clocked in at 22:43.6.

NEC MEN'S PRIME PERFORMERS

Aidan Budge, 5th, CCSU - 1st/44 at Ted Owen Invite - 24:55.00 (8K)
Connor Garrett, 2nd, CCSU - 4th/44 at Ted Owen Invite - 26:10.10 (8K)
Thomas Gaydos, So, MU - 17th/184 at Lock Haven Invite - 25:24.90 (8K)

NEC WOMEN'S PRIME PERFORMERS

Ellie Ballard, 1st, CCSU - 8th/40 at Ted Owen Invite - 22:43.60 (6K)
Mya Morabito, 4th, CCSU - 3rd/40 at Ted Owen Invite - 22:04.70 (6K)
Lillian Tabellione, 3rd, CCSU - 4th/40 at Ted Owen Invite - 22:15.10 (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
Sept. 30: 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

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

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