BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- Lawrence Kipkoech has been named NCAA Division I National Athlete of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the organization announced Monday afternoon.

National Athlete of the Week is an award selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff at the beginning of each week to six collegiate cross country athletes (male and female for each of the three NCAA divisions).  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 will also play a role in the decision.

The Eldoret, Kenya native is coming off a first-place finish at the adidas XC Challenge with a time of 17:42.1 in the men's 6K. He went up against Florida State's Harry Mulenga (NAOTW on September 7) and a host of runners from NC State and Virginia at the adidas XC Challenge.

After Kipkoech and Mulenga pulled away, it became a two-man race. Ultimately it was Kipkoech who broke away from Mulenga to earn the win over the 6K course. Mulenga finished three seconds back.

Kipkoech, coming off an outdoor track season that saw him place 9th in the 10000 and 17th in the 5000 at NCAAs, is hoping to improve upon his 131st-place finish last year at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

View the USTFCCCA release here. For the most up-to-date information on Campbell cross country, follow @GoCamelsRun on Twitter.