Illinois senior Andrew Riley was named the National Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Wednesday.

Riley recently became the first male athlete to win national titles in the 100-meter dash and 110-meter high hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.28 seconds, beating Auburn’s Harry Adams by two-thousandths of a second, and won the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 13.53 seconds.

Riley won four NCAA titles, was an 11-time first-team All-American and 11-time Big Ten champion during his Illini career. He also holds five school records, one Big Ten record and two Big Ten meet records.

“I don’t really focus on the award stuff,” Riley said by phone on Wednesday. “I try to go out and do my business. For me, I’m just trying to get the highest awards possible. I continue to build. I continue to go for goals. These achievements are just stepping stones. These are just the start.”

The next goal for Riley is qualifying for the Jamaican Olympic team in the 110-meter high hurdles. The team trials will be held in Kingston, Jamaica from June 28-July 1.

Riley knows he’ll be ready.

“I’m a finals guy,” Riley said. “I’m a competitor. The competition always gets the best of me. I’m always pumped.”

Riley recently also received the 2011-2012 Dike Eddleman Award, which is given to the top Illinois male and female athlete each year. He won the male athlete award last year as well.