Oct. 11, 2006

BROOKINGS, sd - New Jersey Institute of Technology sophomore Umar Saeed is the national Division I Independent Runner of the Week, award coordinator Rod DeHaven of South Dakota State announced today.

Saeed, from Parlin, NJ and Old Bridge High School, was honored for his record-setting run in the Highlander Invitational hosted by NJIT at Branch Brook Park in Newark on Sunday. He set a new NJIT record for the Branch Brook Park, covering the five-mile course in 25:53.4, about half a second faster than the previous record and nearly a minute ahead of the rest of the field.

NJIT is one of 13 schools whose runners are eligible for the award. Previous winners this year have come from UC-Davis, North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne (IPFW).