NEW ORLEANS -- Pittsburg State University redshirt senior Dylan Sprecker chose a great time to win his first career collegiate cross country race.

Sprecker, a three-time NCAA champion on the track (including relays), ran like a pro to win the individual title at the NCAA Divisio II Pre-National Invitational Sunday (Oct. 11). The Gorillas' standout made a decisive move between 5.1k and the finish to break the tape in 23 minutes, 59.9 seconds, 4.1 seconds ahead of runner-up Henry Born of Missouri S&T.

Other athletes Sprecker defeated included Chile Pepper Festival champion Pau Valderrama of Missouri Western and Ricardo Vargas of Cal Poly Pomona, who finished 21st at the NCAA Championships a year ago.

This is the first time an athlete from Pittsburg State has been named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.