LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for September 15, 2026.  Today will include Athletes of the Week for Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Golf, Men’s Tennis and Women’s Tennis

A total of five student-athletes from 4 different member institutions were recognized for their performances. Runner of the Week
Sevan Ikeda / SO / Gallaudet University/ Fremont, CA / California School for the Deaf-Fremont

Sevan Ikeda earned United East Runner of the Week honors for the second consecutive week after finishing third overall among 90 runners at the SU Twilight Open. The sophomore completed the 6K course at historic Kernstown Battlefield in 20:11, finishing behind only two runners from Roanoke College. The defending United East champion has opened the 2026 season with back-to-back top-three finishes after placing second at the Dutchmen Invitational a week ago. Runner of the Week
MaKayla Reichel / SO / Penn State Harrisburg / Landisville, Pa. / Hempfield

MaKayla Reichel earned United East Runner of the Week honors for the second consecutive week after recording a runner-up finish at the Juniata Invitational. The sophomore completed the 5K course in 19:53.7 to place second among 37 runners and lead the way for Penn State Harrisburg. Reichel has now opened the 2026 season with back-to-back top-five finishes, following her program-record 5K performance at the Dutchmen Invitational a week ago. Golfer of the Week
Cole Cooper / SO / Wilson College / Virginia Beach, Va. / Salem

Cole Cooper opened the 2026 season with a strong showing for Wilson College at the Dickinson Fall Invitational, hosted by Dickinson College at the par-72 Carlisle Barracks Golf Course. Cooper carded rounds of 77 and 75 to finish the two-round event with a total score of 152, eight strokes over par.  Player of the Week
Jacob Nelson / JR / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Olney, Md. / Sherwood

Jacob Nelson opened the fall season with a 1-1 singles record for St. Mary’s College of Maryland at the Washington College Invite. After falling to Washington College’s Aidan Thomas-Cogar in a three-set battle, 1-6, 6-3, 3-10, Nelson responded with a hard-fought victory over Albright’s Enrico Pucci. He earned the win 6-3, 4-6, 10-7, securing the match with a 10-point tiebreak in the deciding set. Player of the Week
Lily Ganjbaksh / SO / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Potomac, Md. / Winston Churchill

Lily Ganjbaksh posted a 2-1 singles record for St. Mary’s College of Maryland at the Washington College Invite. After dropping her opening match to Washington College’s Antonia Kousiou, Ganjbaksh bounced back with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory over Albright’s Nadia Margaritov. She closed the weekend by rallying from a set down to defeat Millersville’s Lauren Hayes, 5-7, 6-3, 10-5, winning a 10-point tiebreak to secure her second victory of the event.