NEW ORLEANS, La. – Pau Valderrama has been recognized as the Men's NCAA Division II National Athlete of the Week - an honor selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff.

Valderrama etched his name into Griffon history on Saturday, becoming the first men's cross country runner at MoWest to capture an individual race victory.

The junior from Sant Cugat Sesgarrigues, Spain, claimed the top spot at the Southern Stampede in Joplin, clocking a personal best and school-record 8K time of 23:39.21. His performance secured the win by 1.09 seconds.

The Griffons return to competition on Saturday, October 4, when they host the Griffon Invite. The women's 5K is scheduled for 8 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at 8:45 a.m.

About the Award
Each week, the USTFCCCA highlights up to 14 collegiate cross country athletes across NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, as well as the NAIA and NJCAA. The award is designed to showcase not only the nation's fastest times and strongest marks, but also performances of national significance, dramatic finishes, and consistent excellence. Nominations are open to coaches, sports information directors, student-athletes, families, and fans, with additional candidates identified through TFRRS.