Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sept. 8, 2025) – North Central College junior BJ Sorg nabs his first career United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athlete of the Week award after a dominating performance in the Cardinals' season opener last Friday, Sept. 5.
 
The Plainfield, Ill. native posted an impressive 24:26.10 effort to win the NCCXC Invitational 8k on the Cardinals' home course of St. James Farm. Sorg finished nearly 40 seconds ahead of the next competitor, with a time that also ranks second-fastest on the course all-time.
 
It marks the eighth time in program history that a Cardinal has earned national athlete of the week accolades, and it's the first time since Dhruvil Patel earned his third honor in 2018. Also earning the honor were three-time recipient John Crain and Troy Kelleher.
 
North Central is set to travel to Batavia, Ill., for the Aurora Spartan XC Classic, Saturday, Sept. 13, with the men's race set for 10:30 a.m. at Northwestern Medicine Cross Country Course.