Ocean County College OceanViews Magazine 2026 Summer-Fall - Flipbook - Page 20
ATHLETICS
BATOOL ABDELMALAK ’26
Ocean County College cross-country standout Batool Abdelmalak, class of 2026, was
named OCC’s Woman Athlete of the Year,
an honor she received at a National Junior
College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
reception celebrating National Girls and
Women in Sports Day. The event, held at
Middlesex College in Edison, marked both
the 40th anniversary of National Girls and
Women in Sports Day and the first-ever
NJCAA Region 19 reception of its kind.
Abdelmalak, a Manchester Township resident, was selected to speak on behalf of
all the award recipients at the ceremony, a
role she called a life-changing honor.
During both of her seasons with OCC’s women’s cross-country team, Abdelmalak earned
MVP honors and was named to the NJCAA
All-Region 19 Team. She also maintained a
4.0 GPA throughout her time at OCC, earning
membership in the Phi Theta Kappa honor
society, and was the recipient of multiple
student awards for academic and athletic
excellence. Abdelmalak also worked as a student employee in OCC’s enrollment office,
volunteered at community events, and was
active in multiple student clubs on campus
— a balance of commitments that reflects
the same discipline she brings to her sport.
20 Summer-Fall 2026
Abdelmalak’s accomplishments were
celebrated in March at an OCC Board
of Trustees meeting, where she shared
reflections on her experience at the
Region 19 reception. Notably, she
pointed out that of the 24 regions across
the country, Region 19 was the only one
to host an event specifically to honor
and support its women athletes.
In her remarks, Abdelmalak described
what it meant to see 26 schools come
together in one place in support of
student-athletes and their families.
“It was really so inspiring to learn of
the different backgrounds, interests,
and goals amongst all of us, because
it showed me that striving for success
doesn’t have a particular mold you have
to shape yourself into. Instead, I got to
see that everyone’s story is unique and
the paths we take help us to grow, not
just individually, but as a whole.”
Abdelmalak also reflected on remarks
from guest speaker Tamika Dixon, who
spoke about the ripple effect that women
athletes create in their communities.
OCC Woman Athlete of the Year
“My eyes were opened to the power of
women in sports, and our guest speaker,
Tamika Dixon, gave a beautiful speech
about how women in sports influence
one another. Sports sharpen us, shape us,
and make us more dedicated. But what
really stuck with me was the effects that
we, as college women, have on sports,”
she said. “I think all of us who attended
got to witness that the small steps we
take today can have a lasting effect for
generations onward.”
Abdelmalak closed her remarks by thanking those who made the day possible,
including her coach and the OCC athletic
department, as well as the organizers
behind the reception.
“I’m so thankful for receiving such an
eye-opening opportunity where I learned
that my participation goes so far beyond
me and that the efforts I put in don’t just
benefit me, but my community as well.
I’m also so grateful for my coach and
the support of the athletic department
here at OCC who helped me progress
so much,” she said. “It was truly a
life-changing experience, and I was so
happy I attended. Thank you.”
