KANSAS CITY, MO – Nathan Martin was tabbed as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Runner of the Week.  Martin, who dominated both the 5000m and 3000m runs at last week's NCCAA National Championship, was named the Championship's Athlete of the Meet.

A 5^th year senior from Three Rivers, MI, Martin has been an incredibly valuable asset to the Cougar Cross Country and Track and Field programs.  Not just in terms of his athletic performances, but his quiet leadership among the ranks.  Martin is a humble, powerful presence on the team and the NAIA honor celebrated by all members team.

Since his arrival to Spring Arbor four and a half years ago, Martin's name appears in the Cross Country, Indoor, and Outdoor Track & Field record books, eight separate times.  Martin owns three different records, and has the second best time in two others.

Two weeks ago, at Grand Valley State's Big Meet, Martin won the 5,000 with a new school record time qualifying him for the NAIA National meet.  His time was the 15th fastest in the country in any divisions and is the top time in the NAIA.  But from a Spring Arbor perspective, this was a record that was originally set in 1975 by SAU legendary distance runner Tony Lutrell with a time of 14:44.61.  No one had come close to that record for 36 years until Martin broke it by 24 seconds in 2011 with a time of 14:20.65.

Running in the Big Meet against 145 runners, so many they ran five separate heats, Martin completed the race in first place with a time of 14:11.79.  While it does break his own record, Martin's time is more than 32 seconds faster than a record that stood for more than 36 years.

Martin, and other Cougar qualifiers are now preparing to compete at the NAIA National Indoor Championships which will take place at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, OH.  For the first time ever, the entire championships will be video streamed live and for free.  There is a link on the saucougars.com website for more information.