ROCHESTER, NY - Senior distance runner Matt Giannino (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) of the RIT men's track and field team was named the 2015 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Atlantic Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, March 11.

Giannino is enjoying an incredible season for the Tigers, as he gets set to compete at the 2015 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Giannino will compete in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter championship. He will race for the 5,000-meter title on Friday, March 13 at 5:50 p.m. and compete in the 3,000-meter championship on Saturday, March 14 at 4:45 p.m.

This is a well deserved honor," said RIT head coach Dave Warth. "Matt has had an excellent year with some breakout performances. He has prepped well for his final year and is now reaping the rewards of a lot of miles and hard work. His best is yet to come."

Giannino, a 17-time Liberty League Male Track Athlete of the Week selection, is ranked fifth nationally in the 3,000-meters. He shattered the school record at the Penn State Tune-Up Meet, on Feb. 21 winning the 3,000-meters, in an incredible time of 8:13.99. Giannino's time shattered the old record set in 2008 by Mike Hardbarger by nearly 18 seconds. He missed the top time in the country by three hundredths of a second, and his time is the 10th fastest in Division III history.
 
His time of 14:15.85 is, by far, the fastest time in Division III this season in the 5,000-meters. He set the record on Jan. 31, crushing a 21-year old school record at the Division I John Thomas Terrier Classic hosted by Boston University. Giannino bested RIT Hall of Famer Kevin Collins' school record of 14:28.66, which was set in 1994. It is the fastest time in Division III this season and among the top-15 fastest times in Division III history.

In addition, Giannino was part of the distance medley relay team that earned All-American Indoor honors in 2013. He also garnered All-American honors at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships. He is a two-time Liberty League Cross Country Runner of the Year and became the first RIT runner to win the NCAA Atlantic/New York Regional in 18 years.