DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton men’s cross country team held its annual awards banquet at the UD Arena Time Warner Flight Deck Sunday to celebrate its 2010 season and recognize individual award winners.
Freshman Doug Norris earned the Flyers’Most Improved Runner honor. He started the season as UD’s seventh man in its first meet of the season at the Flyer 5K and was UD’s fifth man at the Atlantic 10 Championships. He completed his rookie season as the fourth Flyer to cross the finish line at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
“Doug’s confidence improved as the season developed and he put in some great workouts to steadily move up,” said UD Head Coach Rich Davis. “At the Great Lakes Regional, his time of 32:53 stands as the 18th fastest all-time 10K in the 30-year history of Flyer men’s cross country.”
Senior Matt Lemon earned the "High Flyer" honor which is awarded to the student-athlete that clearly exhibits the mission of the University of Dayton (Learn, Lead and Serve) and maintain a high standard of personal excellence in the classroom.
“During his years as a Flyer, Matt has met all the expectations of being the team’s “High Flyer”; academic achievement, qualities of team leadership, and service to the University and the Dayton Community,” said Davis. “Matt was a significant influence in 2010 in creating a team environment which fostered both academic and athletic excellence.”
For the third consecutive season Chris Lemon was named UD’s Most Valuable Runner. This year he became the first-ever Flyer to run at two NCAA Men’s Cross Country National Championships (he also ran at the national meet in 2008). He won the individual titles at UD’s first four meets this season, including the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Men’s Cross Country Championship to become the first to ever Flyer to win that title. He also earned Great Lakes All-Region honors with a fifth place finish.
“Chris had an amazingly consistent season, running in first position for the Flyers at every single meet and winning A-10 Performer of the Week honors four times,” said Davis. “Chris also tied his Team Record at 8K, clocking in at 24:05 at the National Catholic Invitational. His academic work was acknowledged as Chris was given the league's top honor as Men’s Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Year and also named as an ESPN the Magazine 2nd Team Academic All-American.”
