Wednesday, April 20, 2022

NEW ORLEANS – It was a record-setting weekend for Simon Fraser junior Alison Andrews-Paul as her Division II mark in the 800 meters earned her selection as the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association’s (USTFCCCA) Division II Women’s Athlete of the Week.

Competing in the elite section of the 800 meters at the Bryan Clay Invitational on Thursday, Andrews-Paul broke the Division II record in the event with her fourth-place team in 2:01.43. That was nearly better than the previous record of 2:02.39 run by Carsyn Koch-Johnson of Cedarville in 2016.

The mark not only set the GNAC and Division II records but also ranks No. 4 across all collegiate divisions and 11th in the world this season as on April 20.

Andrews-Paul was joined in the race by former SFU standout and training partner Addy Townsend, whose third-place time of 2:01.24 ranks 10th in the world this season. Her other training partner, current SFU staff member Lindsey Butterworth, ran 2:00.40 in the 800 meters to place second in the 800 on the elite day at the Mount SAC Relays on Saturday. That time is No. 4 in the world this season.

In addition to her performance in the 800 meters, Andrews-Paul turned in a personal best of 54.07 seconds in the 400 meters. That time ranks No. 2 on the GNAC all-time list and No. 4 in Division II this season.

Andrews-Paul and her Simon Fraser teammates compete next at the Oregon Relays, Thursday through Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.