OLYMPIA, Wash. – Alauna Carstens (Sr.) from The Evergreen State College has been chosen as the NAIA Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week for Sept. 23. Carstens was selected by the NAIA after winning the women's 6-kilometer race at the PLU Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19.

At PLU, Carstens took first place with a time of 20:50.9. She broke by 29 seconds the course record of 21:19.9 that she set in 2025. Carstens won this year's race by 19.5 seconds, with Breanna Schmitt of George Fox University (Ore.) finishing second at 21:10.4. Alyssa Johnson from Southern Oregon University was third in 21:46.6.

"I am really proud and excited for Alauna!" commented Evergreen Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Joel Pearson. "This Runner of the Week honor represents the hard work and dedication that she put into her training during the summer and this fall, as well as her attention to race detail. I am really looking forward to the rest of the season."

Carstens has been chosen NAIA Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week a total of five times. She received the honor once in the fall of 2023 and was chosen for the award three times in the fall of 2025.

In addition, Carstens is the defending Cascade Collegiate Conference individual champion. She placed fourth at the NAIA Cross Country Championships in 2025 after finishing 15th in 2023.

She earned All-American status during both of her NAIA Championship appearances. She has achieved NAIA All-American honors a total of eight times in cross country, marathon, indoor track and outdoor track.