Monday, March 9, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. - Northwest Nazarene freshman Payton Lewis and Western Washington senior Katelyn Steen have been selected by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for their annual indoor regional awards.

The USTFCCCA also honored Alaska Anchorage head coach Michael Friess and UAA assistant Ryan McWilliams along with Seattle Pacific assistant Chris Reed.

Lewis was selected the USTFCCCA Men's West Region Field Athlete of the Year, while Steen was named the USTFCCCA Women's West Region Track Athlete of the Year.

Lewis set school records this winter in the pole vault (17-0 3/4), heptathlon (5,075) and long jump (23-0).  He also set a GNAC Indoor meet record of 16-11  in winning the pole vault at the conference meet.  Lewis also finished fourth in both the 60 hurdles (8.31) and long jump (23-0) at the conference meet.

His 60 hurdle time ranks ninth in GNAC indoor history and his pole vault mark is the second best in conference history.  He will compete in the national meet Saturday at Birmingham, Ala.

Steen qualified for the NCAA national meet in both the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters with times of 9:38.92 and 16:46.92.  Those times rank fifth and sixth in GNAC history.  Her 3,000 time is a school record. 

Last fall she was an All-American in cross country placing fifth in the national meet.  She also earned All-American honors last spring finishing fourth in the steeplechase.

Friess was selected the USTFCCCA Men's West Region Head Coach of the Year.  He coached the Seawolves to their first GNAC men's indoor track and field title last month.  UAA ranks second in the West Region based on its 13 provisional qualifying marks this season.

McWilliams was selected the USTFCCCA Men's West Region Assistant Coach of the Year.  In his fourth season, he was an integral part of UAA's men's championship effort.  Among the athletes he coached was Cody Thomas, who set school records in the heptathlon, 60, 60 hurdles, long jump and high jump.

Reed, a former standout distance runner at Western Oregon, was named the USTFCCCA West Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year.  Reed's distance medley relay team will compete in the national meet Friday.  Also competing at Birmingham Friday and Saturday will be SPU's Lynelle Decker in the 800.