Will Daniels took the award for Male Athlete of the Year at Sunday night’s Central College Dutchies, the third year in a row he has won the honor.

He’s the first person to win the same award three times, and his Dutchies all honor his three national championships in the multis at the NCAA track and field championships.

Last spring, Daniels tallied 7,427 points to win the outdoor decathlon, the second highest point total in Division III history.  The only mark higher was Kip Janvrin’s 7,528 points set in 1987.

Janvrin won the event at the Drake Relays 15 times, and was a member of the 2000 Olympic team.  Daniels says that to be mentioned in that company is a tremendous honor.

“It’s really cool being next to him on the record board.  I’ve been able to compete against some of his athletes at Central Missouri, and I’ve been able to talk to him a few times.  It’s really special to be in the same company as him.”

Daniels graduated from Central last spring, and is in the first year of his Master’s program at the University of Iowa.  He has one year of eligibility remaining, and while his senior season was stripped this year, he intends to compete for the Hawkeyes next spring.

Daniels topped a loaded field for the Male Athlete of the Year, beating American Rivers Conference football MVP Blaine Hawkins, soccer All-American Taylor Petkovick and baseball player Garrett Saunders, who is in the Atlanta Braves minor league system.