FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

CCIW Release

Oct. 4, 2011-- For the second time this season, North Central College's Matt Perez has been named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week, earning the honor for his performance at the Notre Dame Invitational.

Perez finished seventh in the Gold Division at Friday's Notre Dame Invitational, traversing the 8,000-meter course in 25 minutes, 17 seconds. His time was the second fastest time among NCAA Division III competitors and helped the top-ranked Cardinals finish third in the team standings with 67 points. Grand Valley State University (Mich.), the third ranked team in NCAA Division II, won the meet with 45 points followed by Canadian powerhouse Windsor University (Canada) with 50 points. Calvin College (Mich.), ranked third in NCAA Division III, was a distant fourth with 133 points.

This is the second time the junior has claimed Runner of the Week honors this season and is the third time a Cardinal runner has done so. Perez captured the award on Sept. 20 while Tim Hird earned the honor on Sept. 7.

The Cardinals return to action on Friday, sending a squad to Lisle, Ill. for the Benedictine University Invitational at 3:30 p.m.