Photo by: Will Carter
Ngxabazi Earns Third Big West Male Athlete of the Week Honor for CBU
10/6/2026 3:15:00 PM | Cross Country & Track
IRVINE, Calif. – For the third time this season, CBU has earned Big West Athlete of the Week honors as junior Itumeleng Ngxabazi was named the Big West Male Athlete of the Week.
The Lancers have now won all three Big West Male Athlete of the Week awards that have been given out following a weekend in which CBU competed, going a perfect 3-for-3 this season.
Ngxabazi earned the honor after placing second in the men's 8K at the Cougar Challenge last weekend, finishing with a time of 24:14.8. He stayed near the front of the pack throughout the race, surrounded by several CBU runners, including junior Pedro Marin, sophomore Yemane Mulugeta and CBU-affiliated unattached runner Ernesto Ruiz.
The Cougar Challenge marked Ngxabazi's second race of the season and his first competition in a CBU uniform.
The South African native transferred to CBU after competing at the Division II level at Butler Community College. His success at Butler helped earn him an opportunity to compete at the Division I level with the Lancers.
Ngxabazi is expected to be among the top 10 CBU men traveling to the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas, on Oct. 16. The meet is considered one of the premier midseason cross country meets in the country.
In the photo above, Ngxabazi is the one in the middle with the hat.
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The Lancers have now won all three Big West Male Athlete of the Week awards that have been given out following a weekend in which CBU competed, going a perfect 3-for-3 this season.
Ngxabazi earned the honor after placing second in the men's 8K at the Cougar Challenge last weekend, finishing with a time of 24:14.8. He stayed near the front of the pack throughout the race, surrounded by several CBU runners, including junior Pedro Marin, sophomore Yemane Mulugeta and CBU-affiliated unattached runner Ernesto Ruiz.
The Cougar Challenge marked Ngxabazi's second race of the season and his first competition in a CBU uniform.
The South African native transferred to CBU after competing at the Division II level at Butler Community College. His success at Butler helped earn him an opportunity to compete at the Division I level with the Lancers.
Ngxabazi is expected to be among the top 10 CBU men traveling to the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas, on Oct. 16. The meet is considered one of the premier midseason cross country meets in the country.
In the photo above, Ngxabazi is the one in the middle with the hat.
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Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country & Track
/ Cross Country & Track
/ Cross Country & Track
/ Cross Country & Track
Wednesday, August 17
Saturday, October 30
Thursday, October 01
Thursday, September 10
