STILLWATER, Okla. (November 19, 2022) – Loyola University Chicago graduate student Ryan Martins put an exclamation point on a terrific 2022 cross country season by earning United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-American honors this morning at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Okla.
 
Martins wasted no time in establishing himself on a cold morning at the Greiner Family Cross Country Course.  The first Rambler male to qualify for the national meet since 2014, Martins worked his way inside the top 40 by the men's 10k race's midway point before using a furious final kick over the final kilometer that saw him rocket up to 29^th on the final leaderboard with a personal best time of 29:28.8, a near 13-second improvement from his previous top 10k effort that was set on November 11 at the NCAA Midwest Regional.
 
By virtue of his showing, Martins was named the program's first USTFCCCA All-American since Jim Westphal in 1991.  The Green Brook, N.J. native's finish is the second highest by a Rambler at the NCAA Championships in program history, trailing only the legendary Tom O'Hara, who won the individual national championship in 1964.
 
Martins' standout effort today brings an end to a banner 2022 cross country campaign for the Maroon & Gold.  The Ramblers completed a clean sweep of the team titles at the Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships, racking up nine All-Conference honorees, before posting a pair of top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Midwest Regional, with the men's program recording its top team finish in program history, placing fourth overall.