Dupage Policy Journal

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has recognized two members of North Central College's men's track and field team with regional awards. Gabe Rivera, the head coach, was named the Midwest Region Coach of the Year, while Braden Nicholson received the title of Midwest Region Track Athlete of the Year. This announcement was made on Thursday.

Rivera is in his third year leading the Cardinal men's track and field program. Under his guidance, North Central secured its seventh consecutive College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Outdoor Championship this spring. The team qualified five individuals for the 2025 NCAA Division III National Championships and earned two All-American awards.

Nicholson was responsible for these two All-American honors by winning the 10,000-meter race with a time of 29:20.59, marking him as the program's first individual national champion since 2021. He became only the second student-athlete in school history to win a national championship at both 10,000-meter and 3,000-meter distances, having achieved this at the 2025 NCAA DIII Indoor Championships on March 14. Additionally, Nicholson claimed All-American accolades in the 5,000-meter run with a sixth-place finish (14:16.83). He is now a seven-time All-American for men's track and field at North Central College, including an honor from cross country in 2023.

The achievements of Nicholson and Rivera continue North Central's legacy in men's track and field as this marks their 52nd consecutive outdoor season producing an All-American at the DIII Outdoor National Championships. The Cardinals have also maintained a streak of winning a combined total of 15 straight Indoor & Outdoor CCIW Championships since 2017.