November 20, 2008
(portions of this release courtesy of Dave Blanchard, Luther College sports information director)

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has announced that Luther College student-athlete David McKay and Wartburg College head coach Steve Johnson have been named the NCAA Division III Central Region Cross Country Men's Athlete of the Year and Women's Coach of the Year, respectively.

McKay, a 2005 graduate of Iowa City High School, was one of eight athletes honored from the eight regions that were presented this distinguished honor.

Following his six-second individual title at the Central Regional hosted by Grinnell College on Nov. 15, McKay will be making his third straight trip to the NCAA III National Championships. His second-place finish at the Iowa Conference championships helped lead the Norse to their third straight IIAC men's team title and a league record 30th overall. McKay earned All-America honors at last year's national meet after finishing 27th from the field of 280 runners.

McKay is the son of Jill and Robert McKay of Iowa City, Iowa.

Johnson, in his 20th season as Wartburg's cross country coach, led the fifth-ranked Knights to the Central Region title by a 92-95 margin over Iowa Conference rival Luther. Wartburg also won the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet, winning by 21 points.

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