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March 18, 2008 Lacey, WA – Saint Martin’s John Riak was selected as the Male Indoor Track Athlete-of-the-Year in the NCAA West Region by the United State Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Riak won the mile championship at the GNAC championships and had a GNAC best time of 4:12.53 this winter, good enough for 17th nationally. “The reasoning behind the step down in distance was that a change would be as good as a rest, the bonus being that John ran so fast, and this speed will hold John in good stead when we head back to outdoors for the 5k and 10k races where the pace is less intense but the number of laps increases dramatically,” said head coach Julie Sullivan. Riak also earned the NCAA Division II West Regional Cross Country Athlete-of-the-Year award earlier this year. “John works hard at all times with his running and thoroughly deserves this latest award. His generous and caring nature makes him a popular winner with all the other athletes and coaches in the GNAC, and not many people could lay claim to that,” added Sullivan. Riak was one of three GNAC athletes to be honored along with Zeb Udell of Western Oregon and Jessica Pixler of Seattle Pacific who were named Male Field Athlete-of-the-Year and Female Track Athlete-of-the-Year respectively.
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