The fastest 8,000-meter time in school history was enough to make Caleb Silver one of two Central College athletes to receive American Rivers Conference honors on Monday.

Middle hitter Elyse Johnson was tabbed as the conference volleyball defensive player of the week while Silver was cited as the men’s cross country athlete of the week.

At the Connecticut College Invitational in Waterford Saturday, Silver scored a first-place finish in a 199-runner, 25-team field that included eight teams listed in the USTFCCCA Division III top 35. His 8,000-meter time of 24:13.4 broke the school record of 24:27 set last year by teammate Noah Jorgenson. Silver, a two-time NCAA Division III meet qualifier and returning all-America honoree, helped the Dutch place third in the team standings. It’s the second time he’s received the weekly conference award, previously being cited September 27th, 2021. Central is off until hosting the American Rivers Conference Championships October 28th.

Johnson helped lead the Dutch to three volleyball wins over the weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota, completing a 3-1 week. She had 14 blocks in four matches, including five solos and posted 28 kills, for 42.5 points. It’s Johnson’s second defensive player of the week award this season. Central volleyball is 18-5 overall and 2-2 in the conference, and next hosts Nebraska Wesleyan University Thursday at 6 p.m.