Alabama’s Mercy Chelangat Named USTFCCCA Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year
3/19/2021 4:18:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The junior won the Crimson Tide’s first NCAA Cross Country title on Monday as well as the SEC Cross Country title in the fall
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named Mercy Chelangat the National Athlete of the Year for the 2020 NCAA Division I Cross Country season it was announced Friday.
Chelangat, a junior from Kericho, Kenya, showed her strength over the final 1K at the 2020 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Entrenched in a pack with five other athletes, Chelangat covered the challenging final kilometer in 3:17.8, as she crossed the finish line first in 20:01.1.
Earlier in the season, Chelangat won individual titles at both the SEC Cross Country Championships and the Florida State Invitational, as well as finishing third at the Vanderbilt Commodore Classic.
Head Coach Dan Waters Said
"Mercy continues to blaze a trail for Alabama women's distance, becoming the first to win an NCAA Cross Country title and now becoming the first to be voted Athlete of the Year by the coaches association. We're very proud of all she's accomplished and everything our team was able to do with her leading the way. We're excited that she's been recognized for her hard work and perseverance and we can't wait for what's next."
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Players Mentioned
