For Immediate Release
Monday, September 26, 2016
USFTCCCA Release

NEW ORLEANS — The collegiate cross country season is picking up steam and in turn, so is the difficulty of picking National Athletes of the Week.

NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN — Alexis Zeis, U-Mary

Junior | Bismarck, North Dakota

After watching rival Kendra Foley of Grand Valley State – the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Champion and last year’s national runner-up – notch a signature win in Big Ten territory at Michigan State, it was reigning national champion Alexis Zeis’ turn to do the same en route to her second National Athlete honor of the season.

For the second year in a row, Zeis won the Maroon DII race at the Minnesota Roy Griak Invitational, covering 6K in 22:10.2 to win by 15 seconds over All-American Emilee Trost of Minnesota Duluth. In so doing, she became the first repeat winner in the race since Morgan Place of Minnesota Duluth won three-in-a-row in 2008-2010.

Winning Griak turned out well for Zeis a year ago. She ended up going on to sweep the titles at the NSIC, Central and NCAA Championships.