Wednesday, February 24, 2021

NEW ORLEANS – An unusual and historic week for Seattle Pacific cross country continues.

After winning both titles in their only race of the shorted and delayed 2020-21 cross country season, Falcons’ Jared Putney and Dania Holmberg have been named the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Association’s (USTFCCCA) Division II Cross Country Athletes of the Week.

It marks the first time that Seattle Pacific athletes have been selected for the cross country honor by the USTFCCCA and is the first selection for the GNAC since Alaska Anchorage’s Emmah Chelimo collected the honor on October 23, 2018.

The duo paced Seattle Pacific to team victories at the CWU Winter Invite on Saturday in Ellensburg, Washington. It was the first collegiate race victory for both athletes.

Putney, a sophomore, covered the men’s 8,000-meter course in a time of 26:06.5 to take a 44-second victory over teammate Austin Weise. Putney led Seattle Pacific to the team title with a score of 19 points.

Holmberg, a senior, won the women’s 6,000-meter course in a time of 22:46.3 and crossed the finish line 52 seconds ahead of teammate Belle Brandelfels. The Falcons captured the team title with a score of 18 points.

Most of the 2020-21 cross country season for GNAC teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CWU Winter Invite, hosted by Central Washington, was the only meet hosted by a GNAC institution this season.