FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The Mountain East Conference announced Monday the winners of this week’s Cross Country Runner of the Week awards. The weekly awards are presented by The Health Plan.

Charleston’s Mathew Meli is the MEC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week, while fellow Golden Eagle Joyleen Korir is the MEC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week. 

Meli, a freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, ran a time of 23.32 in the men’s 8k at the UAH Chargers XC Invitational. This time earned Meli a third place finish, in a race of over 375 runners. Meli’s time also set a new school record and is the fastest 8k time in MEC history. 

Korir, a freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, ran a time of 21.01 in the women’s 6k at the UAH Chargers Invitational. Korir’s time earned her a fifth place finish, good enough for the third fastest time in program history and the second fastest time in the MEC this season. 

2026 MEC MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
9/7: Mathew Meli, Charleston
9/14: Luke McKenna, Point Park 
9/21: Donovan Tanouye, Fairmont State 
9/28: Luke McKenna, Point Park 
10/5: Matthew Meli, Charleston 
10/12: Riccardo Andreatta, Davis & Elkins 
10/19: Dan Reeve, Davis & Elkins 
10/26: Mathew Meli, Charleston 

2026 MEC WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
9/7: Violet Wall, Concord 
9/14: Lindsey Dillon, West Virginia Wesleyan 
9/21: Izabella McDonald, Frostburg State 
9/28: Natalie Barr, Glenville State 
10/5: Megan Mitchell, Fairmont State 
10/12: Natalie Barr, Glenville State 
10/19: Zoe Belshan, Davis & Elkins
10/26: Joyleen Korir, Charleston