Education
Novak attended Bordentown Regional High School until he graduated in 2005. In his freshman year, he ran 4:52 in a 1600-meter trial in his gym class. He had a background in American football, in which he played for Bordentown as wide receiver.
At one point before high school he was diagnosed with asthma.
Career
He represented the United States at the 2008 NACAC U23 Championships, where he placed first overall in the men"s 800 meters. He ran at the 2012 United States Olympic Trials. High school Collegiate Novak attended Seton Hall University with a track scholarship.
There he would be coached by John Marshall, who was also an 800-meter runner at Plainfield High School in the 1980s and would go on to compete at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Post-collegiate After his spell at Seton Hall, Novak trained and competed with New York Athletic Club. He ran sat the 2012 United States Olympic Trials and made it to the semi-final round of the men"s 800 meters, where he placed 13th of 16 competitors.