FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

CCIW Press Release

Apr. 30, 2013 - North Central College men's track and field athlete John Crain has been recognized as the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Running Event Athlete of the Week for Apr. 22-28.

Crain received his second CCIW weekly award of the outdoor season after competing at the Drake Relays this past weekend, where he turned in a personal-best time of 14 minutes, 12.80 seconds to finish second in the 5,000-meter run. Crain matched the best indivdual performance ever by a North Central athlete at the prestigious meet.

Crain's time ranks him second among all NCAA Division III athletes this outdoor season and makes him the third-fastest in North Central history. His time is the fastest recorded by a Cardinal since NCC Athletic Hall of Famer Matt Brill '97 ran 14:10.3 in 1996. Crain also ranks seventh nationally in the 10,000-meter run this season (29:55.49).

Crain was also acknowledged as one of the CCIW's Athletes of the Week on Apr. 2, joining javelin thrower Nick Fridrich. Jumper Zach Heerspink received the same honors on Apr. 9.

North Central travels to Millikin University for the CCIW Outdoor Championships on Friday and Saturday. The Cardinals will be seeking their third straight championship and their fourth in the past five years.