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 Fairmont State’s Megan Mitchell is the MEC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week. 

Meli, a freshman from Eldoret, Kenya, finished second overall and was the first Division II finisher at the Paul Short Run on Oct. 2. Meli’s 8k time of 24:01.3 is the fastest time in the MEC this season and helped the Golden Eagles earn a ninth place finish out of 35 teams. 

Mitchell, a senior from Moatsville, West Virginia, earned a 4th place finish at the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic with a 5k time of 18:42.9 on Oct. 3. Mitchell led the Falcons to a seventh place team finish. 

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: 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