BOSTON, Mass. - Concordia University Irvine's own Noah Plaza toed the line at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston on Saturday and represented his school in historic fashion.

Racing in the men's 5K race across the country in the Boston area, Plaza crushed his previous best mark in that event by a whopping 23 seconds. His time of 14 minutes and four seconds was not only a new PR (personal record) but it also broke the Concordia school record that had stood for two decades.

"For me, it was the perfect setting to open my indoor 5K. The pacer did an excellent job getting us out in the right rhythm early, and from there my focus shifted to simply competing, staying engaged, responding to the cues Coach Seawright was giving me, and committing to racing for the win. That mindset of competing rather than overthinking splits is what really created my winning formula that evening."

"Noah came through under the bright lights! said an excited CUI head coach Keegan Bloomfield. "We knew he was fit going into the race and hoped he could race well. He did that and more! He was poised from the gun and ran a smart race. Watching him slowly move up through the race was incredible. He finished with a huge kick and dominated his heat."

"Noah took down a 20 year old school record in incredible fashion," added Bloomfield. "I'm proud of him and it shows what you can accomplish as a Golden Eagle!"

"The atmosphere had this thrill to it," added Plaza. "Everyone there was chasing something meaningful in their own way, and that collective hunger created a really special competitive environment. You could feel the energy in the building for every heat, regardless of pace."

Plaza has truly had a storybook senior season for the Golden Eagles. The Williams Field High School alum finished in the top quarter of the field at the NCAA DII Men's Cross Country Championships back in November after appearing as the first men's XC runner ever in the Concordia DII era on that national stage.

The Gilbert, Ariz. native was also an All-Region honoree in men's cross country and finished Top 3 alongside CUI teammate Spencer Handorf at the PacWest Conference Championships.

Now he can add to his impressive running resume a dominant performance in Bean Town.

"Being able to travel across the country and compete in Boston means a great deal," said Plaza. "I'm incredibly grateful for the season I'm in and for the opportunities God has provided to represent Concordia on stages like this. None of it happens without the belief and trust of the coaches and our athletic staff, and I'm very thankful they believed in both my preparation and my ability to make the most of the opportunity."