MEQUON, Wis. – The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) announced its 2025 Cross Country Athletes of the Year, as voted on by the league's head coaches, with Concordia Wisconsin junior Emma Ahrens earning Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year honors.

A junior from Stephens City, Virginia, Ahrens earns the award for the first time in her career. She becomes the third Falcon to receive the honor, joining LaNea Bartel (2021) and Samantha Gries (2009). It is also her second major conference honor after being named NACC Freshman of the Year in 2023.

Ahrens recorded a consistent and dominant season, finishing in the top 10 in all five regular-season meets. She opened the year with a second-place finish at the St. Norbert Tom Barry Invitational before earning consecutive wins at the Ken Weidt Invitational and the Wisconsin Private College Championships on the Concordia Wisconsin course. She also placed ninth at the Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational.

At the NACC Cross Country Championships, Ahrens captured the individual title in commanding fashion, finishing in 22:35.7—more than a minute ahead of the runner-up. The victory marked her third top-six finish at the conference meet after placing fourth in 2023 and sixth in 2024.

She continued her strong postseason at the NCAA Division III North Region Championships, placing eighth in 22:06.2 to earn all-region honors and qualify for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships.

At the national meet, Ahrens finished 58th overall with a time of 22:18.9.

The award also marks just the second time in program history that Concordia Wisconsin has swept both NACC Cross Country Athlete of the Year honors, joining the 2009 season.