FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
USTFCCCA Press Release
Oct. 21, 2013 - For the third time in 2013, North Central College's John Crain has been selected as the National NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Crain became the first athlete in the nation, regardless of division, to earn the USTFCCCA's weekly award three times after leading the No. 1-ranked Cardinals to a first-place finish over eight other nationally-ranked opponents in the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Brooks Invitational on Saturday. Crain's personal-best time of 24 minutes, 20.74 seconds on the 8,000-meter (five-mile) course was six seconds better than his closest challenger and helped lead the Cardinals to a winning total of just 33 points against the 37-team field.
Crain also received the distinction twice in September after leading the No. 1-ranked Cardinals to the team championship at the Hanover College Madison Kiwanis Invitational and the Country Financial Illinois State University Invitational.
The National Athlete of the Week Awards are a new award bestowed by the USTFCCCA this season. Nominations are open to the public and can be submitted by clicking on the 'Awards' tab at ustfccca.org.
North Central next returns to competition on Saturday, Nov. 2, when it hosts the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championships at St. James Farm in Warrenville. The Cardinals will be pursuing their 40th consecutive CCIW team title.
