USTFCCCA Release

NEW YORK -- One day after leading the City College of New York men's cross country team to its fourth straight CUNY Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) championship, Merlin Padilla Jr. (New York, NY) has been recognized as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III National Athlete of the Week.  Padilla won his second straight CUNYAC individual title in a driving rain at Van Cortlandt Park on Sunday.

He had a dominant performance, finishing more than 50 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Lehman's Max Dell-Thibodeau.  Padilla's time for 8000 meters was 28:58.7.  He became the first repeat CUNYAC champion since Hunter's Chris Guerrero won three consecutive titles from 2009-11.  Padilla was also named MVP of the Championships by virtue of his individual triumph.

With Padilla leading the way, the Beavers captured their fourth consecutive CUNYAC team title.  CCNY is the first program to earn four straight conference championships since the 2009-12 Hunter squads.

A two-time CUNYAC Runner of the Week this season, Padilla is the conference's first-ever National Athlete of the Week in cross country.  The CUNYAC swept both USTFCCCA Division III National Athlete of the Week awards, as CUNYAC women's champion Glory Odeh of Lehman was also honored.

Padilla and the Beavers will next be in action at the ECAC Championships in Milton, NY on Nov. 9.