Rop Named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week

AMES, Iowa – For his commanding victory at the Mizzou XC Opener last weekend, Ezekiel Rop has been named the United State Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Athlete of the Week. For the first award of the season, the USTFCCCA combined the first two weeks of competition for consideration.

This is Rop's first individual honor from the USTFCCCA, and marks the fourth straight year that an ISU men's runner has picked up a USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week award during the cross country season, with Wesley Kiptoo getting one in 2021 and two in 2020 and Edwin Kurgat collecting a pair during his national title-winning campaign in 2019.

Rop and the No. 10 Cyclones opened the XC season at the Mizzou XC Opener on September 1. After running as a team for the first four kilometers of the 6K race, Rop and Gable Sieperda separated from the field to set up a last K showdown. It was all Rop, as he closed the race going 2:49.9 over 1,000m to bring home the victory in 17:54.9, winning by over 10 seconds and being the only male in the field under 18 minutes.

Rop's effort also led the Cyclones to the Mizzou XC Opener team title, with Iowa State posting just 18 points after earning 12 of the top-14 placings in the race.

Rop and the Cyclone men will return to action on Friday, Sept. 30 at the Gans Creek Classic, also hosted by Missouri. The Iowa State women's cross country program will resume its season on Friday, Sept. 23 at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis.

Rop Named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week

Players Mentioned

Wesley Kiptoo

Ezekiel Rop

Gable Sieperda

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Iowa State University Athletics

Rop Named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week

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Players Mentioned

Wesley Kiptoo

Ezekiel Rop

Gable Sieperda

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