by by Sarah Meier, Assistant Athletic Director
DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College Department of Athletics annual fall student-athlete awards banquet was held Tuesday night in the ballroom of the Student Union Building.
Each of the Skyhawks six fall programs were recognized at the banquet – men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and football. Each team’s Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Performer (cross country) were presented their awards.
Also receiving recognition at the fall banquet were the Outstanding Senior Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
The Don Whalen Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year award is presented each year to the most outstanding senior male athlete at Fort Lewis College. It is named after Dr. Don Whalen, a longtime coach, administrator and supporter of Skyhawk Athletics. During his career at Fort Lewis College from 1959 to 1988, Dr. Whalen served as men’s basketball coach, golf coach, director of athletics, dean of education, vice president and, ultimately, two stints as interim president. Our gymnasium is named after him and he’s a member of the FLC Athletic Hall of Fame. Dr. Whalen died on September 26, 2006, age 75.
Don Whalen Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year, Men’s Cross Country Most Outstanding Performer – Christian Gering
Christian Gering (San Felipe Pueblo) closed out his four-year career with the Skyhawks this past Saturday in Louisville, Ky., competing in his third straight NCAA Championship race.
Gering owns three of the Fort Lewis College men’s cross country top 10 times in 10K races, two of which came in NCAA Championship meets.
He has competed in 24 meets for the Skyhawks cross country program, including four RMAC and four NCAA regional championship races.
In his first NCAA Division II championship race, Gering ran a time of 31:09.2 on Nov. 17 in Joplin, Mo., marking the second fastest 10K time in school history behind Kiprono Mutai’s 31:01 time, set in Fayetteville, Ark. on Oct. 16, 2010.
As a junior in 2013, Gering ran the third fastest 10K time in school history (31:19) at the South Central Regional race on Nov. 9, 2013 from Canyon, Texas. Two weeks later at the national championship race in Spokane, Wash., Gering ran the course in 31:57.6, marking the ninth fastest time in school history.
Gering is the first men’s cross country runner to win the Don Whalen Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year.
