GRAPEVINE, Texas – North Dakota distance runner Jadyn Keeler was named the NCAA Division I Women's National Athlete of the Week on Monday afternoon. With the honor, she becomes the first UND student-athlete to earn the award in program history.

National Athlete of the Week is an award selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff at the beginning of each week to 14 collegiate cross country athletes, when applicable (male and female) for each of the three NCAA divisions, the NAIA and the NJCAA. 

The award seeks to highlight not only the very best times, marks and scores on a week-to-week basis, but also performances that were significant on the national landscape and/or the latest in a series of strong outings. Quality of competition, suspenseful finishes and other factors also play a role in the decision. 

Keeler won the 6K crown with a time of 20:57.3 at the Roy Griak Invitational on Friday morning. With the win, she became the first athlete in North Dakota's Division I history to win an individual title at a Power Four meet. Keeler outran Ali Weimer (an unattached Golden Gopher) in the final 2K and held on for the victory. Weimer finished as the runner-up in 21:00.9.

As a team at the Roy Griak Invitational, the UND women placed third in the 6K with 105 points, giving them their best finish at the meet in program history.

This season, Keeler has competed in three meets and has won each race. She captured the 5K titles at the Ron Pynn Classic and the Dragon Twilight before winning the 6K crown at the Roy Griak Invitational. She was named the Kwik Star Summit League Women's Peak Performer of the Week following her win at the Dragon Twilight, where she broke the meet record with a PR time of 16:05.8.

Keeler and the Fighting Hawks will have this week off before traveling to Brookings for the SDSU Classic on Oct. 3.