BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for cross country and swimming & diving on Tuesday. Student-athletes from Carleton, Saint Benedict, Saint John's, and St. Olaf claimed the Conference's weekly honors.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference's sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Transitioning from the fall to winter seasons, team sports (football, soccer, and volleyball) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (cross country and swimming & diving) announced on Tuesday afternoons. The winners of the latest Athlete of the Week awards are listed below, along with details on their outstanding performances.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week archive has complete details on each week's selections and winners.
MIAC Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Kevin Turlington
St. Olaf College
Sr.
Rochester, Minn. / Lourdes
Kevin Turlington finished third in a personal-best time of 24:07.49 to lead the way for the Oles at the Connecticut College Invitational on 10/18 in a field that included 12 nationally-ranked teams in interregional competition. Turlington's 8K time is the fastest in the MIAC this season and the third-fastest in program history. It was his fourth top-four finish in as many races this fall.
MIAC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Hannah Preisser
Carleton College
Sr.
Chapel Hill, N.C. / Carrboro
Hannah Preisser returned to the Knights' lineup at the Connecticut College Invitational on 10/18 and placed sixth overall out of 261 finishers. Preisser crossed the finish line at 21:02.42, helping Carleton to a seventh-place finish as a team at the 33-team meet that featured 16 nationally-ranked squads. Her 6K time is the fastest in the MIAC this season.
MIAC Men's Swimming Athlete of the Week
Brayden Slavik
Saint John's University
Sr.
Green Isle, Minn. / Chaska
Brayden Slavik won three individual events – the 100- (52.43) and 200-yard (1:57.13) backstrokes, and 200-yard individual medley (1:58.25) – and was the first leg of SJU's first-place 200-yard medley relay in the Johnnies' triangular win over Hamline and Minnesota Morris on 10/18.
MIAC Men's Diving Athlete of the Week
Cody Watts
Saint John's University
Jr.
St. Cloud, Minn. / Tech
Cody Watts swept the diving competition in the Johnnies' triangular meet against Hamline and Minnesota Morris on 10/18. Watts totaled 240.45 points on the 1-meter board and a score of 216.15 on the 3-meter.
MIAC Women's Swimming Athlete of the Week
Haley Zelen
College of Saint Benedict
Jr.
Shakopee, Minn. / Shakopee
Haley Zelen collected four event wins at the CSB Invitational on 10/18. Zelen broke her own program record in the 100 fly by touching the wall in 57.07 - 0.02 seconds faster than her previous mark, set on 10/11. Zelen also took first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.97, good for the third-fastest 50 free time in program history. She later clocked in at 52.90 to win the 100 freestyle for another top-three mark all-time. Zelen also helped the Bennies' 200 medley relay team to a first-place finish in 1:53.19.
MIAC Women's Diving Athlete of the Week
Emma Netland
College of Saint Benedict
So.
Moorhead, Minn.
Emma Netland won the 3-meter diving competition at the CSB Invitational on 10/18 with a score of 160.70. Netland also placed third off the 1-meter board with 161.75 points.