Jonathan Myatt has been named to the Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor class of 2020. Myatt was a member of the Oakland men's cross country team from 1989-92.

A three-time All-GLIAC honoree, Myatt was named the GLIAC Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year after being crowned the individual champion in 1991.
 
Myatt raced to a 12th place finish at the 1990 NCAA DII Great Lakes All-Region and tallied 11 top-10 finishes in his distinguished career, tied for fourth most in program history.

What does being inducted to the Hall of Honor mean to you?
To be inducted into the Hall of Honor is a true honor and was completely unexpected. Oakland has produced many exceptional athletes over the years and to be recognized for my contributions is truly humbling and something that I will always cherish.
 
What does Oakland mean to you?
Oakland was much more than a great academic institution. Oakland provided me the opportunity to be part of a team and without that opportunity, I would not be in the position I am today. Along my way, I met many teachers, coaches that provided guidance and mentorship that helped shape my early career.
 
What is your favorite Oakland memory?
There are many, however; if I had to choose one it would be the 1991 GLIAC Cross Country Conference Championship. The 10K race was held at Northern Michigan in the U.P. and Hillsdale was the favorite to win the meet. During warm-ups and jogging the course, my teammate; Paul Rice and I discussed strategy and that we would drop-in behind the Hillsdale boys for the first 5K then pass them at the bottom of the large hill on the second 5K. The strategy worked, as Paul and I went one / two, although Hillsdale still won the team trophy.
 
I would be remiss if I did not mention the long drives to the UP meets in the Oakland shuttle van - need to remind you this was 1989, Oakland was known as the Pioneers and Lepley sports center was a fraction of the size of the Oakland Athletic Center is today. There is nothing like driving up to 10 hours to Houghton with your teammates and then having to wake up early the next morning to run a 10K. And with my first three conference championships being held in the UP in mid-November, the weather was perfect for cross country! - typically under 32 degrees with snow on the ground. Now those are the good times you remember...
 
What does your sport mean to you?
Cross country is a true fitness sport that requires dedication and commitment to achieve and reach ones true potential. Cross country taught me that hard work and putting in the time, that success can be achieved and I have carried that throughout my life. Although cross country may seem like an individual sport, it is very much a team sport and the time spent with teammates are memories that you will remember for a lifetime. 
 
What did you do after your Oakland experience?
With my degree in Mechanical Engineering, I eventually began a career in sales. I have been married for 16 years to my wife Marissa and we have two fantastic boys: Connor and Bryce and we reside in Royal Oak, Mich.

This year's induction ceremony will take place on Friday, Jan. 24 at the Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac. The event is open to the public, and those interested in attending can register here.