BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for golf and cross country on Tuesday. Student-athletes from Augsburg and Carleton 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. Throughout the fall season, team sports (football, soccer, and volleyball) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (cross country and golf) 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
Mohammed Bati
Augsburg University
Sr.
Dodola, Ethiopia / GAP School
Mohammed Bati earned a 5.2-second victory at the St. Olaf Invitational on 9/20, finishing the 8K race in 24:42.5. It was the 15th victory of his 22-race cross country career and his 16th time breaking 25 minutes at the 8K distance. Bati was also named the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III Men's Cross Country National Athlete of the Week, becoming the first Auggie cross country runner in history to receive the national honor.
MIAC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Hannah Preisser
Carleton College
Sr.
Chapel Hill, N.C. / Carrboro
Hannah Preisser crossed the finish line at 22:03.2 to win the 6K women's race at the St. Olaf Invitational on 9/20. This was Preisser's second straight individual victory and the seventh of her collegiate cross country career. Preisser topped the 220-runner field and paced the nationally-ranked Knights to the team title.
MIAC Men's Golf Athlete of the Week
Sam Higaki
Carleton College
Jr.
San Mateo, Calif. / Aragon
Sam Higaki earned medalist honors at the Saint John's Fall Invitational on 9/20-21 with a two-round score of 136 (-8). Higaki tied his career low with a 7-under par 65 in the first round before shooting a 1-under par 71 in round two. Over the two-day tournament, Higaki played the par 4s at 6-under-par and had eleven birdies on the weekend.
MIAC Women's Golf Athlete of the Week
Kate Yi
Carleton College
Fy.
Valencia, Calif. / West Ranch
Kate Yi won the St. Kate's Invitational on 9/20-21 with a two-round score of 142 (-2). Yi posted a 2-under par 70 at Eagle Valley Golf Club to open the tournament before carding an even-par 72 at Braemar Golf Course in round two. Yi recorded seven birdies on her way to the first medalist honor of her collegiate career.