Tuesday, January 30, 2018

NEW ORLEANS – Saturday’s historic run at the UW Invitational in the mile for Western Oregon’s David Ribich has earned the senior selection as the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Association’s (USTFCCCA) Division II Male Athlete of the Week.

Ribich became the 501st athlete in U.S. history to break the four-minute mile, finishing third in the event at the Dempsey Indoor Center with a time of 3:58.88. The time is the fourth-fastest mile in Division II history and bettered his GNAC record in the event by four seconds.

Ribich was third in the race’s elite heat, which featured four athletes ducking under the four-minute barrier. Yomif Kejelcha of the Nike Oregon Project won in a time of 3:56.95 while Northern Arizona’s Andy Trouard was second in 3:58.01. The heat also included 2008 Olympian Lopez Lomong, who finished behind Ribich in fourth in 3:59.75.

With the performance, Ribich automatically qualifies for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. The performance is the best in Division II this season by six seconds and is the fifth fastest time run by a collegian this season. In addition, the mark is the third fastest run by a U.S. athlete this season and is 20th in the world.

In addition to the mile, Ribich ran the anchor leg on Western Oregon’s distance medley relay team at the UW Invitational. The Wolves won in a time of 9:47.56, which is also an NCAA Championships automatic qualifier.

This is the second time this indoor season that Ribich has been recognized by the USTFCCCA. He was also named the Division II Male Athlete of the Week on Jan. 16 after he set the Division II record in the 1,000 meters at the UW Preview. His time of 2:21.38 in the non-NCAA recognized event is third best in the world this season.