NEW ORLEANS — Missouri Southern cross country runner Ruth Chemutai was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II Women's National Athlete of the Week, the organization announced Monday.
 
Chemutai turned in a record-setting performance at the 2026 MIAA Cross Country Championships, leading Missouri Southern to its first conference team championship since 2014.
 
The freshman won the individual 6K MIAA championship with an MIAA-record time of 20:32.0, finishing more than 11 seconds ahead of the runner-up.
 
Chemutai's time was also a personal record and earned her All-MIAA First Team honors.
 
With her victory, Chemutai became the first Missouri Southern women's runner to capture the individual MIAA championship since Kimi Shank-Reed in 2009.
 
Chemutai's first-place finish gave the Lions one point toward their team total and helped Missouri Southern claim the championship with 60 points, nine points ahead of Rogers State.

The National honor marks the second of the season for Chemutai. 

MSSU next heads to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the 2026 NCAA Division II Central Regional on Nov. 21.