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

USTFCCCA Press Release

Sept. 16, 2013 - For the second straight week, 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 twice after leading the No. 1-ranked Cardinals to a first-place finish over five NCAA Division I opponents on Friday at the Country Financial Illinois State University Invitational. His time of 24 minutes, 22.13 seconds on the 8,000-meter (five-mile) course placed him second overall as Illinois State's Ryan Rutherford secured a narrow victory in 24:21.96.

The Cardinals won the six-team meet with just 28 points, while Illinois State placed second in 42. Bradley University placed third (65), followed by Eastern Illinois University (97), the University of Northern Iowa (124) and the University of Illinois-Chicago (178).

Crain also received the distinction last weekafter leading the No. 1-ranked Cardinals to the team championship at the Hanover College Madison Kiwanis 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 will send a squad to St. James Farm in Warrenville to compete in the Wheaton College Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10:45 a.m.