Rader wins first career River States Conference Field Athlete of the Week honor

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Behind two first-place finishes, a second-place and a fourth place at the Lions Invitational in Cincinnati, Ohio -- which included two personal bests and two school records -- Shawnee State men's indoor track and field talent Luke Rader was named as the River States Conference's Male Field Athlete of the Week, as announced by conference officials Monday afternoon.

Rader, a sophomore who is a graduate of nearby Minford High School, was terrific throughout Saturday's Mount St. Joseph Lions Invitational, scoring a team-high 28 points in individual events and contributing to a team-best 33 points overall to help Shawnee State win the 11-team Lions Invitational Saturday in Cincinnati.

In doing so, Rader set personal bests and school records in both the 60 meter hurdles (8.70) and the triple jump (43 feet, three-and-three-quarters inches) en route to winning both events, finished second in the long jump (21 feet, 10-and-one-quarter inches) and contributed to SSU's fourth-place finish in the 4-by-200 meter relay (1:37.57). Shawnee State trailed Wilmington by a 114-107 count with the long jump left to go, but Rader came through with his second-place jump, scoring eight of Shawnee State's 17 points between its three competitors in the event to help the Bears win by a 124-114 count over the second-place Quakers.

"It's great to see Luke earn this recognition at the conference level," Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn said. "He came in ready and has been competing at a high level. I'm thankful that Luke decided to join the Bears, and I'm looking forward to what his future holds."

Rader's success at the collegiate level is no surprise to many -- as the talented athlete finished sixth at the Ohio High School Athletic Association's (OHSAA) Division II State Meet in the long jump as a high school senior.

Monday's award is the first of Rader's career in just his third collegiate meet with Shawnee State after transferring from NCAA Division I Marshall prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 season.

Shawnee State will be back in action Friday, Jan. 31 when the Bears compete at the Youngstown State Mid-Major Invitational in Youngstown, Ohio and at the Cedarville Collegiate Invitational in Cedarville, Ohio.