OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Alauna Carstens (Jr.) of The Evergreen State College has been named the Cascade Collegiate Conference McDonald's Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week, presented by Urban Edge Network. Carstens earned the award by winning the women's 6-kilometer race at the PLU Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Carstens took first place in the women's race with a time of 21:19.9. She crossed the finish line with a lead of 30.6 seconds. Emily Foote of George Fox University was second in 21:50.5 and Fiona Fraser, competing unattached, placed third in 21:59.1. A total of 135 runners competed in the race. The Geoducks took seventh place in the women's team standings.

It was the fifth time that Carstens has been chosen as a CCC Athlete of the Week since the start of the 2025 calendar year. She received the honor a total of four times between indoor track and field and outdoor track and field this past winter and spring.

This week's honor is her second CCC weekly award in cross country. Also received CCC McDonald's Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week honors once in 2023.

Evergreen's cross country teams will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the 50th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational. The meet will be held at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon.