WALESKA, Ga. — Nathan Cremin and Heather Murphy stole the show with record-setting performances on Thursday and Friday at the Wake Forest Invitational. Thanks to their remarkable showings, the Montreat College pair took home Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's and Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week recognition.
 
For Cremin, the honor marked his first of the outdoor season and his second of the 2026 campaign. Meanwhile, the award marked Murphy's fourth of the year and second of the outdoor slate. Overall, the Cavaliers have captured six Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week nods from the AAC in 2026.
 
Getting the fireworks started on Thursday, Cremin turned in a historic effort in Winston-Salem, N.C. Racing against NCAA Division I and II athletes, Cremin won his 800m invite section, besting eight other runners with a standout time of 1:46.45. Not only did the junior meet the NAIA 'A' standard and set a school record, but his outing proved to be the second-fastest men's outdoor 800m time in NAIA history. Cremin's race trailed the association's quickest mark, which was set in 1997, by merely 0.28 seconds. His time also stands as the NAIA's fastest this year by roughly two seconds.
 
Murphy took to the track on Friday, doing so in one of the 5000m invite sections. The Portarlington, Ireland native competed against numerous high-level NCAA and professional athletes, yet she held her own, placing eighth out of 23. Murphy ran an 'A' standard time of 16:25.12, shaving nearly five seconds off her own school record in the process. The performance currently stands as the second quickest in the NAIA this season.
 
Up next, Cremin, Murphy and the Montreat College men's and women's track & field teams host the 2026 AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships from Thursday through Saturday at Pulliam Stadium in Black Mountain, N.C.