Tuesday, November 12, 2019

NEW ORLEANS – For the second straight year, Alaska Anchorage senior Emmah Chelimo has been selected as the Division II West Region Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field & Cross County Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Chelimo repeated as West Region champion in a race where she led from the front from start to finish and dominated the field on Saturday at Western Oregon University’s Ash Creek Preserve. She covered the 6,000-meter course in a time of 20:22.4, 27 seconds faster than second-place Dania Holmberg of Seattle Pacific.

Two weeks before, Chelimo proceeded to repeat as GNAC champion in snowy conditions at Amend Park in Billings, Montana. She won in a time of 21:31.9, seven seconds ahead of runner-up Kate Lilly of Seattle Pacific.

While Chelimo was assured a spot in the NCAA Division II Championships as the regional champion, she will be joined by her Alaska Anchorage teammates at the national meet on Sat., Nov. 23 in Sacramento. The Seawolves received one of four women’s team at-large invitations to the meet given to West Region teams. Alaska Anchorage placed fourth with a score of 146 points.

Chelimo is one of three returning GNAC All-Americans from the 2018 national meet. She finished 23rd last year in a time of 23:26.5.

The award for Chelimo marks the third straight year that an Alaska Anchorage athlete has been named the Division II West Region Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year. It is also the seventh such award all-time for the Seawolves.