Friday, December 2, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – Successful runs to the NCAA Division II Championships for Alaska Anchorage and Simon Fraser have earned the Seawolves’ Michael Friess and the Clan’s Brit Townsend the GNAC’s Cross Country Coach of the Year awards.

Friess was selected by his peers as the GNAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Currently in his 27th season as the Seawolves’ head cross country and track and field coach, Friess led the UAA men to their seventh consecutive GNAC championship, scoring 31 points at the conference meet in October, and the team’s 10th in the GNAC’s 16-year history. The meet also marked the ninth consecutive time that Alaska Anchorage has had the GNAC Runner of the Year, this year going to conference meet champion Edwin Kangogo.

The Seawolves went on to finish second at the NCAA West Region Championships and placed fifth at the NCAA Division II Championships, marking the third time the Seawolves have finished in the top-five as a team at the national meet.

The award is the seventh consecutive GNAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year honor for Friess and the 11th overall. He has also been named the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year eight times.

Townsend was voted the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year for the second time after leading a competitive Clan program to a second place finish at the GNAC Championships and the NCAA West Region Championships. With a score of 103 at the regional meet, the Clan finished as the top GNAC team in the meet. Simon Fraser went on to finish sixth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, the best team placing in the school’s NCAA history.

Simon Fraser finished with two All-Americans, led by Rebecca Bassett’s 23rd place finish. The senior also placed third at the GNAC Championships and an eighth place regionals finish. Julia Howley also earned All-American honors.