INDIANAPOLIS – Fall competition was officially underway over the weekend as the first Great Midwest Athletic Conference Cross Country Athletes of the Week were announced Monday morning.
 
Hillsdale was host to a season-opening invitational that saw a field of only Great Midwest member institutions competing. The 8K men’s race was won by Walsh and the Chargers defended their home course for a team win in the 6K distance for the women.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan was the first program to officially compete following their races at the Indiana Wesleyan Twilight on Friday night.
 
Runners are ramping up to the Great Midwest Championship meet that will be held at Tiffin University on Saturday, October 24. The NCAA has already announced the cancellation of all fall national championships.
 
Men’s Athlete of the Week
Drew Roberts
Walsh
Sophomore
Ashland, Ohio (Mapleton HS)
 
The reigning conference freshman of the year set the tone for his sophomore season with a first-place individual effort and top team finish at the Hillsdale Invitational on Saturday. Walsh was one of four league members competing, including Malone, Hillsdale and Findlay. 
 
Roberts completed the 8K course in 26:05, 18 seconds ahead of runner-up Nicholas Michels (Malone). 
 
This marks Roberts third career Great Midwest Athlete of the Week honor, as he earned back-to-back weekly honors during his freshman season. 
 
Roberts finished seventh overall at last year’s conference championship, helping his team to a Great Midwest Championship and an appearance at both regionals and nationals out in California
 
Roberts and the Cavaliers will next compete at the Cedarville Open (8K) on Saturday, September 26th at the Elvin R. King Cross Country Course. 
 
 
Women’s Athlete of the Week
Alayna Ackley
Cedarville
Junior
Hart, MI (Hart HS)
 
After finishing sixth in last year’s Great Midwest Championship meet, Ackley emerged as one of the names to keep an eye on while getting ready for the 2020 season.
 
The junior captain only validated those predictions with a first-place finish at the Hillsdale Invitational on Saturday, a race with five other league member institutions in the field.
 
Ackley toured the 6K course in 22:07, nine seconds paced ahead of runner-up Alexa Leppelmeier of Walsh at 22:16.
 
Ackley was a first team all-conference performer after finishing with a 21:09.60 at last year’s conference meet.
 
This is Ackley’s second career conference weekly honor. She was also recognized as a freshman in 2018 with a fourth-place finish and team title at the Gettysburg Invitational.
 
The Yellow Jackets will next host the Cedarville Open on Saturday the 26th at the Elvin R. King Cross Country Course. The race is a 5K distance.