One Allen Community College athlete has been honored by the National Junior College Athletic Association as a National Athlete of the Week.
After a great performance at the Fort Hays Open, Lady Red Devil Elka Billings has been named the NJCAA Division II female Cross-Country Athlete of the Week.
Billings finished third in the Women’s Black 5-kilometer race, leading Allen to a sixth-place team result in the event. Billings was the top junior college runner at the event. The event was divided by school size, with the black division including the smaller schools.
Billings also finished third in the 5k, fifth in the 5,000-meter indoor race and fifth in the 10,000-meter outdoor race at the NJCAA Division II National Championships in the spring.
This marks the first time a female Allen County cross-country runner has been named National Athlete of the Week.
“I think this helps our program’s morale going forward,” said Allen County head coach Vince DeGrado. “We had some big lows to start off with regards to COVID. Our teams are progressing and getting better each week. I don’t see our teams slowing down anytime soon, only building from this.”
Billings said, “It means a lot to get recognition for all the work I put in over the summer. God has given me the perseverance and strength to accomplish this. My biggest goal is to keep shaving off time. I want to be in the top three again at the national meet and I have my eyes set on a national title.”
Billings attended Iola High School before transferring to Crest her junior year.
“It means a lot to see a local runner have this much success,” remarked DeGrado. “It shows kids from local high schools that staying home and building yourself up can be an option. I think with Elka, Rachel Bycroft, and Ursula Billings, they are paving the way for future local athletes to look at Allen County as an investment in their future.”
With all her goals in front of her, Billings could go down as the most decorated female cross-country runner in school history.
