Isahak Named MIAC Athlete Of The Year

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/04/21)---Senior Munir Isahak (Fargo, N.D./Fargo South HS) capped his conference career by being named the MIAC Athlete of the Year in the annual league awards press release.

Isahak was one of three Cobber runners to officially earn postseason awards. In addition to Isahak being named the Athlete of the Year, he also earned All-Conference honors by virtue of his Top 15 finish at the MIAC Championship Meet last weekend at St. Olaf. Sophomore Leo Smith (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo Sheyenne) and junior Tanner Olson (Detroit Lakes, Minn./Detroit Lakes HS) earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors for finishing in the Top 25.

Isahak becomes the first Concordia student-athlete to receive the Athlete of the Year award since the league started bestowing the honor in 2003. The award has been given to the runner who wins the MIAC Championship Meet in each of the 18 years it has in existence.

Isahak became the first Cobber to win the MIAC Meet since 1991 when he ran a 24:50.2 at the St. Olaf course. His time won the meet by almost a full 9-seconds, and was the seventh fastest time in league history over an 8K championship course.

Isahak joined Mark Lingle (1987) and Jason Trichler (1991) as the only Concordia men's cross country athletes to ever win the conference championship meet.

Isahak is also the first Cobber harrier to earn MIAC All-Conference honors since Tom Sederquist finished fifth in 2011.  

Smith and Olson rose to the occasion in their very first MIAC Championship Meet. The duo finished less than 3-seconds apart in the final standings and both posted a Top 20 finish.

Smith was the No.17 finisher with a time of 26:01.9, while Olson placed 18th in a time of 26:03.7.        

The trio of Isahak, Smith and Olson give Concordia the most conference postseason award winners in program history. The three also helped the Cobbers finish fifth in the team standings which is the highest finish since 1999.

The Cobbers had the MIAC champion for the first time in 30 years, recorded their most postseason award winners in program history and posted their best team finish in 22 years, but surprisingly head coach Maddie Van Beek was not named the MIAC Coach of the Year.

Cobber MIAC All-Conference Award Winners
2021 – Munir Isahak
2011 – Tom Sederquist
2010 – Tom Sederquist
2004 – Nick Myran
2003 – Nick Myran
2002 – Brian Sotts
1997 – Bill Keating
1992 – Jason Trichler
1991 – Jason Trichler
1987 – Mark Lingle

Cobber MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention Award Winners
2021 - Tanner Olson, Leo Smith
2019 – Eric Wicklund
2018 – Munir Isahak
2017 – Eric Wicklund
2013 – Ryan Sederquist
2012 – Brad McConn
2010 – Brad McConn
2004 – Ben Nylander
2002 – Kirk Nelson
2000 – Brian Stotts
1999 – Chris Goebel, Brian Klug