Another day, another honor for Samantha Rivard. The latest citation was bestowed on the University of Minnesota Duluth freshman standout today as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named her as its Central Region Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year for NCAA Division II. Rivard received that same honor two months ago from the USTFCCCA for the indoor season.

A native of Oak Grove, Minn., captured both the 5,000 and 10,000-meter run titles at last weekend's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships and finished third in the 1,500-meter run en route to landing the league's Newcomer Of the Year Award.  Her 16:29.73 time in the  5,000 meters currently is the second fastest in the NCAA II ranks and she is ranked No. 17 at 1,500 meters and No. 19 at 10,000. The 2013 NCAA II cross country All-American and reigning NCAA II indoor mile titleholder will run in both the  5,000 and 10,000-meter races (she also qualified for the 1,500-meter event but will not take part) at the NCAA II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which start next Thursday in Allendale, Mich.