Step aside LeBron James, there is a new king from Akron, Ohio.

John Carroll’s distance-runner Alex Phillip ‘23 has been crowned Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year at the 2022 Greater Cleveland Sports Awards after a remarkable junior year campaign.

Phillip received the award on Wednesday, March 23 at the award ceremony with his family in attendance.

“This award to me is really special,” said Phillip. “It’s the perfect way to cap off an incredible year of running.”

Incredible is indeed the perfect word to describe Phillip’s indoor season and cross country season with the Blue Streaks.

Phillip walked away from the 2021 and 2022 season as the “triple crown” winner: the 2021 NCAA D-III Cross Country National Champion and the champion of the 3000-meter and 5000-meter races at the 2022 NCAA D-III Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Throughout the year, Phillip accumulated many other awards, including the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association National Male Athlete of the Year and the Ohio Athletic Conference Distance Runner of the Year.

“There are so many people I could thank but most important is my team and coach for helping to push me every day,” stated Phillip. “My girlfriend supported me through all the ups and downs of running and my middle school track coach Mrs. Krejsa.”

With Phillip walking away with the Greater Cleveland Sports Award, he becomes John Carroll’s first Greater Cleveland Sports Awards winner since the 2016 Football team during the 2017 awards.

But Phillips is not living in the past as his focus has shifted to the upcoming outdoor season.

“For this upcoming outdoor season, the main goal is to see how high of a team finish we can achieve,” said Phillip. “Hopefully we will be standing on top of the podium.”

After graduating from John Carroll, Phillip hopes to get his MBA and continue his collegiate running experience at a new institution.