New Orleans, La. — Newman's Katie Hughes added another major accolade to her historic season after being named the NCAA Division II National Athlete of the Week.
 
Hughes earned the honor following a series of dominant performances throughout the 2026 campaign, highlighted by her victory at the NCAA Division II Pre-National Invitational at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas, where she pulled away from the field to win in 20 minutes and 43.9 seconds.
 
The victory marked Hughes' second M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week honor of the season. She previously received the award Sept. 28 following a commanding performance at the Augustana Invitational, taking first place in a school-record time of 20:16.9, the fastest 6-kilometer performance in Newman history.
 
Katie's success continued at the NCAA Division II Pre-Nationals, where she claimed first place on the same course that will host the 2026 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships. Hughes' victory helped lead Newman to a 16th-place team finish against a field featuring many of the nation's top programs.
 
The UK native has consistently positioned herself among the elite runners in Division II throughout her senior campaign, collecting multiple national honors while delivering record-setting performances for the Jets.
 
With the postseason approaching, Hughes' National Athlete of the Year recognition further cements one of the most accomplished cross country seasons in Newman program history.