October 13, 2026

HELENA, Mont. – The Frontier Conference announced its Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Women's and Men’s Cross Country Runners of the Week for the sixth edition of the 2026 season Tuesday.  Montana Western and Dickinson State (N.D.) were listed on this week’s edition after their performance in the Frontier Conference Preview Meet on Oct. 9.

Women's Runner of the Week
Natalee Stevens – Montana Western
Freshman I Mapleton, Ore.

Stevens led Montana Western's women's cross-country team at the Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bears Open on Oct. 9 in Billings, Mont.

She finished 11th overall among 79 runners in the women's 6-kilometer race, recording a personal-best time of 23 minutes, 53 seconds.

Stevens was the highest-finishing NAIA and Frontier competitor in the race, highlighting her performance against a competitive field.

It marked the third time this season that Stevens had finished as Montana Western's top women's runner.

This is Stevens’ first career Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Player of the Week honor.

Men's Runner of the Week
Caleb Sarsland – Dickinson State (N.D.)
Senior I Bowman, N.D.

Sarsland captured the individual title at the Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bears Open on Oct. 9 in Billings, Mont., which served as a preview of the upcoming Frontier Conference Cross Country Championships.

He completed the men's 8-kilometer race in 24 minutes, 37 seconds, finishing first among 105 runners in the field.

Sarsland crossed the finish line 10 seconds ahead of the runner-up and 37 seconds faster than the next closest NAIA competitor.

This is Sarsland’s sixth career Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Player of the Week honor, his third honor this season.
 

	Women	Men
No. 6 - Oct. 13	Natalee Stevens - Montana Western	Caleb Sarsland - Dickinson State (N.D.)
No. 5 - Oct. 6	Grace Steinmetz - Bellevue (Neb.)	Kole Albers - Valley CIty State (N.D.)
No. 4 - Sept. 29	Frida Barrera - Valley City State (N.D.)	Caleb Tomac - Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
No. 3 - Sept. 22	Grace Steinmetz - Bellevue (Neb.)	Oliver Morris - Carroll (Mont.)
No. 2 - Sept. 15	Kierra Miller - Dakota State (S.D.)	Caleb Sarsland - Dickinson State (N.D.)
No. 1 - Sept. 8	Grace Steinmetz - Bellevue (Neb.)	Caleb Sarsland - Dickinson State (N.D.)