WALESKA, Ga.— According to a release from the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) office Monday afternoon, both Ryan Stade and Heather Murphy picked up AAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week recognition for the second time this year. These honors also marked the second and fifth such awards for the men's and women's programs, respectively, during the 2026 indoor season.
 
Stade helped the Cavaliers achieve two NAIA 'A' standards and two school records in Winston-Salem, N.C. last weekend. The Marysville, Kan. native ran the final leg of the distance medley relay Friday evening at the Camel City Sprints. With Stade's help, the unit registered a 9:59.13 time, good for fourth place. The showing is the second-fastest time in the NAIA this season, as well as the 18^th-quickest time in NAIA men's indoor track & field history.
 
Picking up where he left off, Stade smashed the 5000m school record and his own personal best on Saturday at the Camel City Distance. The upperclassman shaved 6.30 seconds off the program's prior top performance, as well as 25.05 seconds off his career-best effort. Stade claimed first place in a 5000m field featuring 45 athletes thanks to his 14:10.52 mark. That time also ranks second in the NAIA this year and 10^th in NAIA men's indoor track & field history.
 
Murphy also pushed the records books to their limits at the Camel City Distance. While she didn't finish her 5k, she bounced back to win the seeded 3000m event, placing first out of 12 runners. The Portarlington, Ireland native's 'A' standard time of 9:40.89 came within a second of breaking her own school record. The showing stands as the fourth-fastest NAIA time in 2026, as well as the 16^th-quickest in NAIA women's indoor track & field history.
 
For the official AAC Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week release, click here. To view the official AAC Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week release, click here.
 
The Montreat College men's and women's track & field teams compete next at the Tryon Mid-Winter Collegiate Invite on Feb. 13-14 in Mill Spring, N.C.