CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Yellow Jacket distance running standout Matt Brooker has been voted the 2012-13 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Male Athlete of the Year. He is the first-ever recipient of the award.

Brooker, a senior from Spring Mills, Pa., was the 2012 NCAA Division II Midwest Region Cross Country Runner of the Year after outrunning 157 competitors to win the region meet. He helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the NCAA Championship where they placed 15th as a team and he finished 41st individually.

Brooker was the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Cross Country Runner of the Year and helped guide CU to a third-place finish in the All-Ohio Championship.

On the track, Brooker established a new school record in the 10,000 meter run of 29:52.58 at the University of Cincinnati Open. He become the first CU runner to ever crack 30 minutes in the event.

Brooker qualified for the NCAA Division II Championship in the 10K. He went on to finish 16th in the country.

Urbana University basketball player Ciara Geiger was recognized as the G-MAC Women's Athlete of the Year.

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