Monday, November 3, 2014

PORTTLAND, Ore - Western Washington senior Katelyn Steen and Alaska Anchoraage freshman Henry Cheseto have been named the USTFCCCA National Division II Female and Male Athletes of the Week for Oct. 26-Nov. 1.

Steen, a senior from Eastlake High School in Sammamish, Wash., won the women’s individual title at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships last Saturday at Monmouth, Ore. 

Her time of 20:14 over the six-kilometer course was a record for the 14-year-old meet, bettering the old mark by 10 seconds, and was 19 seconds ahead of her nearest rival.

Steen, who was the GNAC runner-up last year, is just the fourth WWU woman to win a conference championship. Sarah Porter won the title in 2010 and Ashlee Vincent took back-to-back crowns in 2001 and 2002.

Steen earned USTFCCCA All-America honors in 2013 after placing 34th at nationals. She is a three-time West Region and GNAC all-star.

Cheseto won the GNAC men's title in an 8,000-meter time of 24:36, leading the Seawolves to their fifth consecutive team title.  It is the seventh year in a row a UAA athlete has won the men's individual title.