Tuesday, May 14, 2019

NEW ORLEANS – After posting a record-setting performance to earn her first GNAC championship in the women’s steeplechase, Simon Fraser senior Julia Howley has been named the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association’s (USTFCCA) Division II Women’s Athlete of the Week.

Howley cruised to the win in the steeplechase on Friday at the GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, presented by Under Armour. She won the race by 37 seconds with a time of 10:02.45 that broke her own GNAC record that she set earlier in the season. It also broke the GNAC Championships record of 10:14.15 set by Western Washington’s Katelyn Steen in 2015.

Already automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships with her time of 10:03.19 at the Stanford Invitational in March, Howley’s time ranks third in Division II this season and ranks No. 9 on the Division II all-time best list. It is also the No. 10 best time run across all collegiate levels last week.

In addition to the steeplechase, Howley finished sixth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:30.39. Her season-best of 4:26.01 ranks No. 13 in Division II this season and should assure her selection to the NCAA Championships in that event as well.

Howley is the second GNAC athlete to be named a USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week during the outdoor season. Alaska Anchorage’s Caroline Kurgat won the award on Apr. 2 after running an NCAA Division II record time of 32:08.09 in the 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational.