HELENA, Mont. – The Frontier Conference has announced its first edition of the 2025 Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Cross Country Runners of the Week awards. Carroll College standout Zack Gacnik has earned the honors in the first week of the 2025 Cross Country season.

Men's Runner of the Week:  Zach Gacnik, Carroll

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Gacnik, a senior from Conifer, Colo., was selected as the Frontier Conference Men's Runner of the Week.

Coming off one of the most impressive individual seasons in Carroll College history, in which he won the 2024 Frontier Individual titles and placed No. 18 at the NAIA Championship meet, Gacnik impressed in his 2025 debut.

The senior was the highest placing NAIA competitor at the NCAA Division I cross country meet, the 2025 Montana State Bobcat Twilight for the No. 12-ranked Fighting Saints. 

Gacnik clocked a time of 15 minutes, 41 minutes to place 14th at the event, which saw a total of 84 runners compete in the Men's 5K race.

The Runner of the Week accolade has become a near weekly occurrence for Gacnik, as this marks his fourth career Erck Hotels/Frontier Men's Cross Country weekly honor.

Gacnik and the rest of the Fighting Saints have plenty of time to prepare for their next meet, as both the Men and Women will compete in the Montana Open - hosted by the University of Montana on September 19 in Missoula.