Ottumwa, IA – Freshman Raynier Galvez (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County) of the No. 2 nationally ranked Indian Hills Men's Track & Field squad has been tapped as the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Track Athlete of the Year, announced by the conference office Friday.
Galvez set the track ablaze during his rookie campaign with the Warriors. The freshman ran to an individual region championship at the recent National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 11 Indoor Track & Field Championships in Storm Lake, IA. Galvez took home the 600-meter run title with a time of 1:20.22 to claim the top spot on the podium for the Warriors.
A two-time ICCAC and United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Athlete of the Week, Galvez has produced some of the top marks across the NJCAA this year. Galvez has claimed two individual school records for the Warriors – the 600-yard and 800m marks.
Along with the individual title at the NJCAA Region 11 Championship, Galvez helped lead the men's 4x400m relay squad to a first-place finish. The Warriors crossed the finish line with a time of 3:16.64, nearly 10 seconds ahead of the second-place finishers.
Competing at the Iowa State Classic in February, Galvez broke one of the most coveted Indian Hills records with the 800m run. The freshman ran to a time of 1:48.34, surpassing previous national champions Rivaldo Marshall and Tyrice Taylor. Galvez's mark in the event remains the top all-conditions time in the nation this year and ranks third all-time in NJCAA history.
Along with Galvez's track honor, teammate Tate Joens (Cedar Rapids, IA/Cedar Rapids Prairie) has been named the ICCAC Field Athlete of the Year.
Read More: Joens Named ICCAC Field Athlete of the Year
Galvez and the Warriors will now head to the upcoming NJCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Lubbock, TX March 7-8.
Looking for Indian Hills Athletics information straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter and mobile alerts to receive news, scores, highlights, and more in real-time: INDIAN HILLS ATHLETICS NEWSLETTER