Friday, December 13, 2019

NEW ORLEANS – The success of Northwest Nazarene’s women’s cross country program was the surprise of the nation this fall, and Nighthawks’ director of athletics communications Craig Craker was there to chronicle it each step of the away.

Craker, who is in his third year coordinating Northwest Nazarene’s media relations efforts, is one of four collegiate athletic communications professionals recognized by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with its Excellence In Communications Award for the 2019 cross country season.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized by my colleagues and coaches,” Craker said. “My goal in this job is to celebrate all of our student-athletes. This team was so much fun to cover all season long.”

After placing fifth in the women’s team competition at the GNAC Championships, the Nighthawks shocked the NCAA Division II cross country world with a second-place team finish at the NCAA West Region Championships and a 16th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. It was the Nighthawks’ first trip to the national meet, which was contested this year in Sacramento.

Craker attended the national meet with the Nighthawks, providing solid first-hand accounts of the meet in both words and photos. In addition to his meet recaps, Craker provided a “Behind The Scenes” blog that provided both serious and comedic insights into NNU’s journey at the national meet.

“The excitement of the team and himself was felt throughout his work,” said Danny Barnts, the assistant athletic director for communications at Point Loma and former Western Oregon sports information director, who nominated Craker for the award. “It was a highlight moment he brought to life for Northwest Nazarene.”

Craker is the third GNAC athletic communications professional to receive the USTFCCCA Excellence In Communications award for cross country in the six years it has been presented. Former conference sports information director Bob Guptill won the inaugural award in 2014 and Seattle Pacific’s Mark Moschetti won the award last year. In addition, Moschetti (2015) and GNAC assistant commissioner for communications Blake Timm (2018) has won the track and field version of the award.

Other professionals recognized with Craker with Excellence In Communications Awards are Andy Jobanek of Portland State (NCAA Division I), Chris Lindeke of Wisconsin-Whitewater (NCAA Division III) and Haley Gimre of Taylor University of Indiana (NAIA).