Cross Country

USD’s Kifle and UND’s Johnson earn the #SummitXC weekly awards

South Dakota’s’ Kifle and North Dakota’s Johnson take home season’s fifth peak performer honors

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota’s Natnael Kifle and North Dakota’s Shewaye Johnson earned the sixth Summit League Cross Country Peak Performer of the Week honors of the season, league officials announced Tuesday. 
 
Kifle led all Summit League men’s runners in the 8K at the Bradley Pink Classic, finishing fifth with a time of 23:31.9. The junior helped the Coyotes secure an eighth-place team finish while recording the fifth-fastest 8K time by a Summit League runner this season.

Johnson paced the Fighting Hawks in the women’s 6K at the Under Armour Pre-National Invitational, crossing the finish line in 43rd place with a time of 20:17.6. The senior helped North Dakota place 17th out of 43 teams.


Natnael Kifle, South Dakota
Jr | Sioux City, Iowa
  • Collected his first career weekly honor 
  • Placed 5th at the Bradley Pink Classic 8K race with a time of 23:31.9
  • Helped the Coyotes to an eighth place team finish
 Also nominated: MJ Foster (Kansas City), Matej Hrebacka (North Dakota), Ethan Moe (North Dakota State), Abraham Chelangam (Oral Roberts), Jackson Dutcher (South Dakota State), Casey Poppler (St. Thomas) 
 
Shewaye Johnson, North Dakota 
Sr. | Prosper, Texas
  • Earned her first career weekly accolade
  • Took 43rd overall at the Under Armour Pre-National Invitational with a time of 20:17.6
  • Helped the Golden Eagles secure a 17th-place team finish
 Also nominated: Jade Rypkema (North Dakota State), Hope Riedel (Omaha), Ossly Murambidzi (Oral Roberts), Geneva Timmerman (South Dakota), Faith Weise (South Dakota State), Olivia Goebel (St. Thomas)
 
2026 Cross Country Peak Performers of the Week
Sept. 8
M: Abraham Chelangam, Oral Roberts
W: Geneva Timmerman, South Dakota 
 
Sept. 15
M: N/A
W: Jade Rypkema, North Dakota State
 
Sept. 22
M: Ethan Moe, North Dakota State
W: Jade Rypkema, North Dakota State
 
Sept. 29
M: Isaac Ochoa, South Dakota 
W: Olivia Correale, North Dakota 
 
Oct. 6
M: Sibonokuhle Thwala, Oral Roberts 
W: Ossly Murambidzi, Oral Roberts 
 
Oct. 13
M: N/A 
W: N/A 
 
Oct. 20
M: Natnael Kifle, South Dakota
W: Shewaye Johnson, North Dakota 
 
#SummitXC