MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg University men's cross country runner Mohammed Bati (SR, Dodola, Ethiopia/GAP School) was named as this week's United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III Men's Cross Country National Athlete of the Week, it was announced on Monday. It marks the first time ever that an Augsburg cross country runner has earned the national honor from the USTFCCCA.

At Saturday's St. Olaf College Invitational, Bati triumphed over a talented field, scoring a 5.2-second victory in the 194-runner race in 24:42.5, edging second-place finisher Kevin Turlington of St. Olaf, who finished 23rd at last year's NCAA Division III National Championships. The field also included three 2024 All-Americans from UW-La Crosse -- Aidan Matthai (fifth place at nationals, fourth place at St. Olaf), Grant Matthai (third place at nationals, 10th place at St. Olaf) and Jayden Zywicki (20th at nationals, sixth at St. Olaf).

Bati scored the 15th victory of his 22-race cross country career on Saturday, and has now recorded 16 sub-25-minute 8,000-meter times in his 22 career races.

The USTFCCCA honor is the latest in Bati's storied cross country career. He has won the last three MIAC individual tiltles, and could become the first men's runner to ever win four MIAC titles this season. He earned MIAC and USTFCCCA North Region Athlete of the Year honors in 2024, as he won the NCAA Division III North Regional for the first time. He qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championships for the second time in his career in 2024, earning All-American honors for the first time with a second-place national meet finish.

Augsburg returns to action on Friday, Oct. 3 at 4:15 p.m., competing at the Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational at the Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax, Wis.