Alex Phillip Wins OAC and USTFCCA Runner of the Week Awards

9/20/2021 5:10:00 PM | By: Joe Ginley '16, SID

Phillip is the first JCU male runner to earn USTFCCA Runner of the Week honors.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Alex Phillip is not just one of the top runners in Ohio, he's one of the top runners in the country.

Before this Friday, some folks may have known. But now, everyone knows.

Phillip won the 2021 All-Ohio Championships in Cedarville on Friday, besting runners across all divisions in the 8k Championship race. Phillip reigned victorious with a time of 24:52.1.

As a result, Phillip is the Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Week, as well as the USTFCCCA Division III National Men's Runner of the Week.

The victory was impressive, especially against Division I, Division II, and Division III student-athletes. But all the more awe-inspiring was the manner in which he did it. The Akron native crossed the finish line 4.6 seconds ahead of the nearest finisher. No other Division III runner earned a spot in the top five, let alone the top ten.

Looking back the history of the All-Ohio Championships, Phillip is just the fourth NCAA Division III male athlete to win the individual title at the meet, crossing the finish line, joining William Jones of Fransiscan (2012), Mike Sawicki of Otterbein (2005) and Dave Cooper of Mount Union (1997).

Phillip made more history on Monday. The St. Vincent-St. Mary alum became the first John Carroll male student-athlete to win USTFCCA National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.

"Alex had waited since November 2019 to run a cross country race and was hungry to compete again," said Head Coach Kyle Basista. "You can't ask for a better way to start the season. I'm excited for what's to come."

As for OAC Runner of the Week award, Phillip is now a two-time honoree. He last achieved the honor on September 9, 2019.

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