Contact: Taiah Gallisath-Poklop, Associate Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5302
 
Oct. 20, 2026 – For the first time in his career, North Central College men's cross country junior Richard Klein was named this week's College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Runner of the Week after a personal best finish at the Augustana Interregional Invitational.
 
Klein finished 16th at the Augustana Interregional with a personal-best time of 24:38.6. The performance marked the first time the junior finished an 8K race in under 25 minutes.
 
Klein's performance helped No. 11 North Central finish second as a team behind No. 1 Wartburg College. The Cardinals finished ahead of several other nationally ranked NCAA Division III programs in the field.
 
Klein becomes the fourth Cardinal this year to earn the weekly award from the conference following BJ Sorg (Sept. 8), Ari Elmayan (Sept. 22), and Daniel Kasperan (Oct. 6).
 
North Central is gearing up for the CCIW Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31 at St. James Farm in Warrenville, Ill.