SEC Cross Country Athletes of the Week: Week 7

Men's Runner of the Week

Ben Shearer	Arkansas
RS-So.	The Woodlands, TX.

Arkansas' Ben Shearer utilized a strong finish over the final 1,000m to win the Virginia Pre-Nationals with a time of 22:55.0 and lead No. 21 Arkansas to a team victory with 35 points, defeating No. 17 Tennessee (89) and No. 10 Virginia (112), among a field of 23 teams. Shearer's time is second best over the past 15 seasons in regular season meets among SEC runners, trailing only a 22:54.8 by Victor Kiprop of Alabama on the Florida State Pre-Nationals course in 2021. Covering the final 1k in 2:39.4, Shearer passed teammate Kirami Yego (2:51.3 final 1k) as well as Tennessee's Yaseen Abdalla (2:43.4). In producing his fastest 8k time, Shearer won the race by 3.6 seconds over Abdalla (22:58.6) and Yego (23:04.2). Shearer covered the challenging Panorama Farms course with the fastest 8k time on the weekend in comparison to a 23:23.4 by Harvard's Graham Blanks winning time at the Nuttycombe Invitational.

Women's Co-Runner of the Week

Parker Valby	Florida
RS- Jr.	Tampa, Fla.

Parker Valby was crowned the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational champion by a margin of 12.4 seconds, topping former NCAA Cross Country Champion Katelyn Tuohy. Valby was able to increase her lead as the race progressed, holding just a 0.6 second lead through the first 2k, growing to a 7.5 second lead through 4k and eventually ending in that 12.4 second advantage. Valby crossed the finish line in 19:17.2, a new Wisconsin course record. Valby also propelled the No. 9 Gators to fifth place finish at the meet, totaling 262 points and recording victories over No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 8 Washington and No. 10 Colorado.

Women's Co-Runner of the Week

Hilda Olemomoi	Alabama
So.	Kenya

Alabama's Hilda Olemomoi clocked the fastest 6K time across the SEC last weekend (18:56.9), only two-tenths of a second ahead of teammate Doris Lemngole as the duo crossed the finish line simultaneously at the Crimson Classic. Olemomoi secured her first individual title of the season in only her second race of her 2023 campaign. She helped lead Alabama to a program sweep of team and individual titles.

Men's Freshman of the Week

Dean Casey	Tennessee
Fr.	New Orleans, La.

Tennessee's Dean Casey made his Tennessee debut at XC23 Pre-Nationals. He finished eighth overall at 23:25.9 and was the highest-finishing freshman at Pre-Nationals. Casey helped Tennessee to a second-place team finish.

Women's Freshman of the Week

Doris Lemngole	Alabama
Fr.	Kenya

Alabama's Doris Lemngole joined teammate Hilda Olemomoi as a holder of the top-two fastest 6k times across the SEC last weekend. Lemngole finished in 18:57.1, only two-tenths of a second behind teammate Olemomoi as the duo crossed the finish line simultaneously at the Crimson Classic to help secure the program-sweep at home.