Barbara Neiva Earns National Athlete of the week

NEW ORLEANS - In her first race in three weeks, Barbara Neiva showed no signs of rust.  Neiva finished 12th in the White Race at the Bradley Pink Classic, covering 6k in 22:21.7 to easily claim top honors among JUCO athletes. 

It's the third time this season she's been the top runner from a two-year program, joining the Gans Creek Classic and Augie Twilight in September.

Neiva was seventh in last year's NJCAA DI Cross Country Championships.

This is the 13th time that a female athlete from Iowa Western has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week in cross country. Neiva joins Silvia Gradizzi (2023), Mercy Biwott (once in 2022 and twice in 2021), Faith Linga (four times in 2020 and three times in 2019), Shanieke Watson (2016) in that regard.