Alex Phillip Named Greater Cleveland Male College Athlete of the Year

Home / Newsroom / Alex Phillip Named Greater Cleveland Male College Athlete of the Year

Alex Phillip '23 and Gabriella Kreuz '14

Originally published on �ۿ۴�ýSports.com

On Wednesday evening at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, was crowned as the Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year at the 2022 Greater Cleveland Sports Awards. Phillip was recognized after making NCAA Division III history as a "Triple Crown" winner. The Akron native first won the 2021 NCAA D-III Cross Country National Championship, setting a record in the process. Then, Phillip won both the 3000m and 5000m races at the 2022 NCAA D-III Indoor Track & Field Championships. He became the first-ever male in D-III history to win all three in the same season.

Alex Phillip winning the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2021

"Winning this award means a lot," said Phillip. "I want to take this moment to say thank you to my coach, , and assistant . Everything I accomplished, I couldn't have done without them. I want to thank my team for all of the hard work they put in and what they helped me achieve. I want to thank my girlfriend as well, because I couldn't have accomplished what I have without her." Phillip has set all kinds of history en route to this prestigious honor. The St. Vincent-St. Mary grad became �ۿ۴�ý's first individual cross country national champ, along with the program's first national champion in a track event. Following the 2021 cross country season, he was named the USTFCCCA National Male Athlete of the Year. It goes without saying that Phillip has dominated at the conference-level, too, winning plenty of races and awards along the way. Phillip is the reigning OAC Distance Runner of the Year all three seasons. Phillip becomes �ۿ۴�ý's first Greater Cleveland Sports Awards honoree since the 2016 Football team won the distinction during the 2017 awards.

Phillip becomes �ۿ۴�ý's first Greater Cleveland Sports Awards honoree since the 2016 Football team won the distinction during the 2017 awards. "I couldn't be more proud of Alex," said Head Coach .

His work ethic is incredible, and he's earned everything he's won, including this award. He's done so much for our program. I'm really excited to continue watching him during outdoor season.

�ۿ۴�ý