Contact: Emily Zadny, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

USTFCCCA Release

Sept. 17, 2018 – The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has awarded the NCAA Division III Athlete of the Week honors to North Central College men's cross country senior Dhruvil Patel in recognition of two stellar season-opening performances. The USTFCCCA announced the selections on Monday.

Patel paced the field at the Illinois State University Invitational, a race featuring talent from five Division I schools and North Central as the lone Division III team, on Friday, Sept. 14. He completed the 8,000-meter course in a personal best time of 24:57.0 and helped the Cardinals to a second place team finish. 

He also won the Elmhurst College Earlybird Invitational two weeks prior on Aug. 31, placing first in the 6,000-meter course in a time of 18:46.4 and helped lead his teammates to capture 19 of the top 20 spots and the team victory.

Patel joins Troy Kelleher '16 as the only other men's cross country athlete from North Central to receive the honor. Kelleher was named to the National Athlete of the Week list on Oct. 27, 2014. 

The Cardinals travel to Bourbonnais, Ill. for the Midwest Intercollegiate Invitational on Friday, Sept. 28. The race, hosted by Olivet Nazarene University, begins at 4:15 p.m.