Judson News
Thu, Apr 3, 2008 - [Men's Cross Country]

Elgin, Ill. - Becoming the fourth player to sign with head coach Rich Weinhandl and the Judson University men's cross country team is Robert Altenburger. Altenburger is coming to Judson from Black River High School in New Salem, Ohio.

Altenburger has enjoyed a successful high school career in Ohio as he has picked up several awards. He is a two-time regional qualifier in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

This past fall, he was the PAC Champion and MVP of the conference. He was also named the Player of the Week by the Ashland Gazette and the Elyria Chronicle. He gained the Ashland Gazette All-Area First-Team honors along with also being named to the Medina Gazette All-Area Honorable Mention team.

In the 2006 season, he was an Ashland Gazette All-Area Second-Team selection and made the Medina Gazette All-Area Honorable Mention Team.

His best time in the three-mile has been 17:20. He has been the conference champion for the 3200 meter run. Academically, he is a member of the National Honor Society and has been named the all-Academic Team all four years.

Altenburger joins Matt DeBall (DeKalb, Ill.), Kyle Bricka (Elgin, Ill.), and Ethan Hahn (Lindenhurst, Ill.) on the new team.

Judson is starting both men's and women's cross country back up after a 12 year absence. The program was cut after the 1996 season for both programs. The men's team produced two Judson Athletes of the Year in Dan Westlund (1982) and Mike O'Brien (1996). Westlund was voted into the Judson Hall of Fame in 2006 for his cross country accolades. He was a four-time all-NIIC (Northern Illinois Intercollegiate Conference) runner and team MVP. He was also a two-time NCCAA (National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association) All-American, NAIA National Qualifier, and all-NAIA District team member. The men's team also won three straight NIIC Championships in 1993, 1994, and 1995 along with being the NAIA District Champions in 1993.