Zealand Repeats as CUSA Athlete of the Week

LYNCHBURG, Va. – For the second time this season and the fourth time in her career, Liberty sophomore Allie Zealand has been tabbed the CUSA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week.

Zealand made a strong bid for her first collegiate cross country individual victory during Friday's Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, ultimately finishing as the runner-up among a field of 180 competitors by just 1.6 seconds. It marked the Forest, Va., native's third consecutive top-five showing to open the 2025 season.

Zealand's 5K time of 15:54.7 was the second-fastest clocking in the prestigious meet's 38-year history. It also shattered Calli Doan's program record (set at the 2022 Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational) by 20.4 seconds.

Zealand's front-running efforts led the Lady Flames to fifth place in the women's team standings. As a result, Liberty checks in at No. 9 in the Southeast Region this week.

Zealand and most of her teammates will wrap up their regular season on Oct. 18, traveling to Columbia, Mo., for the Pre-National Invitational. That same day, at group of Lady Flames will race at the Roanoke XC Invitational in Salem, Va.

Schedule

Zealand Repeats as CUSA Athlete of the Week

Players Mentioned

Allie Zealand