Men's Cross Country | 10/21/2014 8:22:00 AM

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

Oct. 21, 2014 - North Central College junior Troy Kelleher completed a season-long sweep of College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week awards on Tuesday, collecting his fifth such distinction. He has now received the honor every time he has raced this season.

The most recent accoldes come a day after Kelleher was named the NCAA Division III National Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in recognition for his efforts at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh AAE Invitational on Saturday.

Up against a field of more than 600 competitors, including 12 nationally-ranked teams representing NCAA Division II as well as Division III, Kelleher placed second in the field by covering the 8,000-meter (five-mile) course in 24 minutes, 35.3 seconds. He was less than three seconds behind the individual champion, Alan Peterson of Grand Valley State University (Michigan), who was named the Division II National Athlete of the Week.

Kelleher led North Central, the current No. 1-ranked team in Division III, to a sizable victory in the team competition. The Cardinals' total of 36 points was 33 better than runner-up Grand Valley State, which is ranked No. 2 among Division II teams. Kelleher has now been North Central's top finisher in each of the five races in which he has competed this season.

North Central has won six of the CCIW's eight weekly awards this season. Teammate Daniel Robles received the honor for the week of Sep. 1-7.

The Cardinals are idle until the CCIW Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur, Illinois. North Central will be pursuing its 41st consecutive team conference championship.