Pate earns first career Heart Runner of the Week honor following Top 10 finish in Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Nearing the late stretches of their 2025 season, Clarke University's men's cross country team earned his first individual honor in the Heart of America Athletic Conference as junior Drew Pate was named the Heart Men's Runner of the Week, conference officials announced on Monday afternoon.

Pate ran a 10th place time of 26:50.44 at the Brian T. Simpson Invite to lead the Pride runners with his best 8K time of the season, one minute and 30 seconds faster than his time at CU's previous race on Sept. 26 and his best 8K time of the season.

The Anamosa, Iowa native is the current school record holder in an 8K cross country race when he posted a 26:17.2 at the Heart Championship race last season as Pate improved on his 2024 Simpson Invite time by about 30 seconds so he can be on pace to top his 2024 school record time.

Full Heart Runners of the Week Story Here: https://heartofamericaconference.com/sports/mxc/2025-26/releases/20251013jdw9iy

Pate and the Pride cross country teams will be back in action this Friday when they travel to Peoria, Ill. for the Bradley Pink Classic on Oct. 17 at Newman Golf Course.