Photo by: Carson Skidmore/Northwestern Athletics
Criniti Tabbed Big Ten Cross Country Athlete Of The Week
9/3/2025 2:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Redshirt sophomore was victorious at season-opening Cowboy Preview
EVANSTON, Ill. (September 3, 2025) – After picking up her first collegiate victory to begin the 2025 season, Northwestern University redshirt sophomore Ava Criniti (Lexington, Mass./Lexington High School) has been named the Big Ten Conference Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week. Criniti is the first Wildcat to take home the league's top weekly honor since Rachel McCardell in 2021.
Competing in the 3k race at the Cowboy Preview this past Friday, Criniti placed first overall in 10:13.1, spearheading a dominant Northwestern performance that saw the Wildcats claim the top five spots en route to posting a perfect team score of 15. Northwestern finished 26 points clear of event host No. 14 Oklahoma State atop the team standings.
A 2024 All-Region honoree by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Criniti enjoyed a breakout redshirt first-year campaign, earning a trio of top-15 finishes.
Northwestern returns to action on Friday, September 12 when it competes at the Big Ten Preview in East Lansing, Mich.
Competing in the 3k race at the Cowboy Preview this past Friday, Criniti placed first overall in 10:13.1, spearheading a dominant Northwestern performance that saw the Wildcats claim the top five spots en route to posting a perfect team score of 15. Northwestern finished 26 points clear of event host No. 14 Oklahoma State atop the team standings.
A 2024 All-Region honoree by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Criniti enjoyed a breakout redshirt first-year campaign, earning a trio of top-15 finishes.
Northwestern returns to action on Friday, September 12 when it competes at the Big Ten Preview in East Lansing, Mich.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
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