DAYTON, Ohio – Head Coach Jason Ordway announced the team awards for the 2015 University of Dayton men's cross country squad at its annual banquet Saturday. Junior Hunter Johnston was named Most Valuable Runner and was also named the recipient of the High Flyer Award. Junior Ethan Louis was named the Flyers' Most Improved Runner. 
 
"Hunter was named MVP for a variety of reasons. He had the fastest recorded 5k and 8k times of the season, as well as our best performance at the conference meet while attaining the seventh all-conference award in program history," said Ordway. "Hunter really buckled down over the off season and put himself in a position to be successful all season long."

Johnston earned all-conference honors at the 2015 A-10 MXC Championship with a 15th-place finish. He was Dayton's No. 1 finisher in four of the Flyers' five races this year. He ran the 25th fastest 8k time in Dayton history at the 2015 Bradley Invite. His time of 24:41 is sixth all-time on Dayton's Top 35 Five-Mile Personal Best list.

The High Flyer Award is given in recognition of the student-athlete who embodies the traits of team leadership and academic achievement. This award can only be presented once during a student-athlete's four years of eligibility. 

"Hunter regularly finished in the top of our top 5 finishers this season as well as maintained a phenomenal GPA (4.0) in aerospace engineering. He also accepted the role of SAAC representative for the team and has organized several team activities and projects," said Ordway. "Hunter is the type of student athlete that has aggressive goals and is willing to do the work to achieve it."

Louis was awarded the Most Improved Runner for the 2015 season.

"Ethan improved the most from last season in sheer times (his PR of 24:43 in 2015 shaved 70 seconds off his 8k PR last year), position on the team, and work ethic," said Ordway. "Ethan was our work horse in every race and workout up until his injury before the conference meet. 

"I'm confident he would have greatly improved over the last several races of the season had he stayed healthy. I expect he will continue to improve over his senior year," added Ordway.

Ordway also handed out individual awards: Matt Krakora received a fourth-year award. Johnston, Alex Kuvin, Kyle Lach, Louis, Michael Tymoski, and captain Maxwell Roeske earned the third-year award. Tyler Adgalanis, Tom Clark, Michael George and Zach Hughes were given the second-year award. Spencer Danielson, Luke Hoover, Jordan Koczenasz, Ryan Kronk, Chris Negri and Scott Seel received first-year awards.