KEENE, N.H. – The Keene State College athletic department named Jake Velazquez of the men's cross country team and Octavio Brito of the men's basketball team, this week's Owls Athletes of the Week. This week's selection encompassed action from November 18 through November 24.
 
Jake Velazquez, a fifth-year from Keene, New Hampshire, became the first KSC men's cross country All-American in 20 years from his 29th place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division III championship hosted by the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course. Velazquez finished in 24:34.5, less than three seconds from a top 20 finish.  He reached as high as 15th at one point, moving from 47th to 20th at the halfway mark, and then to 15th at the 5K mark (15:19.2).
 
Brito, a senior guard from Lincoln, Rhode Island, was named the LEC Player of the Week due to his performance in the Owls' two games at the Purple and Gold Classic at Williams College over the weekend, in which he was named tournament MVP. In the first of the two games for KSC, Brito logged a game-high of 30 points, from 10-16 (62.5%) from the field, including 6-10 (60%) from three and 4-5 (80%) from the free throw line. In KSC's 109-78 win over Thomas, Brito also recorded six rebounds, five assists, and four steals in his 27 minutes of play. In the second game of the tournament, coming against No. 25 Williams College, Brito recorded a double-double with 27 points and 15 rebounds, to go with his three assists and steals in his 36 minutes on the court.