FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 18, 2018) – Senior NAU men's cross country runner
Peter Lomong was featured in this week's edition of Sports Illustrated. Lomong was highlighted in the issue's "Faces in the Crowd" segment.
"Faces in the Crowd" focuses on amateur athletes and their impact on the sports world. Lomong has worked his way up since arriving at NAU to become one of the program's brightest and most successful athletes.
Sports Illustrated has been regarded as one of the premiere sports magazines in print media. Lomong's feature helps to represent NAU and the cross country program in a big way.
"It is truly an honor to be included in this," said Lomong. "To be featured in Sports Illustrated is something I will value and am grateful for."
During his time in Flagstaff Lomong became an All-American in 2017 and helped assist the Lumberjacks in winning the athletics programs first two national championships at the NCAA Division I level. At the 2017 NCAA National Championships in Louisville, Ky., Lomong finished in eighth place with a time of 29:33.09. Lomong has been named the Big Sky Conference Male Athlete of the Week twice. Both came in the first week of the 2017 and current 2018 season.
Coming into Flagstaff Peter would be entering a place that had already seen his world-famous brother, Lopez Lomong a former NCAA national champion and United States Olympian, make a huge impact on the athletics program.
Peter has made a name for himself since arriving and created his own legacy as a Lumberjack. The shadow of his older brother has in no way stepped over Lomong's own. The journey has not been an easy one for him but the constant focus on training and the undeniable effort to succeed has made it worthy of passing down to future classes of NAU runners.
"Peter has had an impact on our program in many ways," said Director of Cross Country and Track & Field
Michael Smith. "His commitment to the journey in this sport has put him in the position he is in today. He did not necessarily start at the top of the NCAA competition. He has improved and moved forward his entire time at NAU and has deepened his commitment to his own running."
This season Lomong has performed at an extremely high level. At the George Kyte Classic at the start of the year he finished in first place with a time of 22:59.3 which was an improvement over his time from 2017 (23:02.4). At the Nuttycombe Invitational Lomong would finish third individually coming in seventh place having crossed the finish line at 23:26.3.
At the most recent competition this year at Wisconsin Pre-Nationals he would end the day securing another seventh place finish with a time of 23:57.2.
NAU has had the fortune of having been home to a multitude of top class runners, yet few have had the journey and story
Peter Lomong has endured. The role of mentor and leader to both the men's and women's team is something Lomong has earned throughout his time in Flagstaff. When he graduates and leaves the program his mark and legacy will live on long past his time here.
"I am so proud to see how far my team has come," concluded Lomong. "I am also proud of how far I have come as an athlete."
Looking ahead to the future Lomong is expected to race in the Big Sky Conference Championships on Oct. 27, NCAA Regionals on Nov. 9 and NCAA Nationals on Nov 17.
