(L-R): Allie Zealand, Mackenzie Babcock, Nicholas Kiprotich, Eli Julian
Liberty Sweeps CUSA XC Weekly Honors
9/23/2025 2:59:00 PM | Cross Country
LYNCHBURG, Va. – After a successful showing at Friday's adidas XC Challenge, Liberty took home all four CUSA weekly awards. The Flames' honorees include Allie Zealand (Women's Athlete of the Week), Mackenzie Babcock (Women's Freshman of the Week), Nicholas Kiprotich (Men's Athlete of the Week) and Eli Julian (Men's Freshman of the Week).
Zealand paced the Lady Flames with a fifth-place finish in the 144-runner women's field. The sophomore's 5K time of 16:36.1 was the fastest of her collegiate career. Zealand is now a three-time CUSA Women's Athlete of the Week after capturing the honor twice as a freshman in 2024.
A native of Cottage Grove, Wis., Babcock made a successful collegiate debut on Friday. She served as Liberty's No. 4 finisher, placing 32nd overall in a 5K time of 17:38.6. Babcock was the sixth-fastest freshman in the race.
Kiprotich led the Flames to a runner-up finish in the men's team standings, placing a team-best 13th of 155 runners in the men's 6K. Kiprotich's time of 18:18.1 earned his fifth career CUSA Men's Athlete of the Week honor (also one in 2023 and three in 2024).
Racing in his home state, Julian closed out the Flames' five men's scorers by finishing 30th in a 6K time of 19:04.0. The redshirt freshman from China Grove, N.C., was the fourth-fastest freshman on the day.
Looking ahead, Liberty will split its squad between two different meets on Oct. 3. A majority of the runners will compete in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind. The remainder of the Flames will head to Kernersville, N.C., for the Spartan Classic.
Zealand paced the Lady Flames with a fifth-place finish in the 144-runner women's field. The sophomore's 5K time of 16:36.1 was the fastest of her collegiate career. Zealand is now a three-time CUSA Women's Athlete of the Week after capturing the honor twice as a freshman in 2024.
A native of Cottage Grove, Wis., Babcock made a successful collegiate debut on Friday. She served as Liberty's No. 4 finisher, placing 32nd overall in a 5K time of 17:38.6. Babcock was the sixth-fastest freshman in the race.
Kiprotich led the Flames to a runner-up finish in the men's team standings, placing a team-best 13th of 155 runners in the men's 6K. Kiprotich's time of 18:18.1 earned his fifth career CUSA Men's Athlete of the Week honor (also one in 2023 and three in 2024).
Racing in his home state, Julian closed out the Flames' five men's scorers by finishing 30th in a 6K time of 19:04.0. The redshirt freshman from China Grove, N.C., was the fourth-fastest freshman on the day.
Looking ahead, Liberty will split its squad between two different meets on Oct. 3. A majority of the runners will compete in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind. The remainder of the Flames will head to Kernersville, N.C., for the Spartan Classic.
Players Mentioned
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