Sports - Local Colleges

POSTED: Monday, Jun. 01, 2009

COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD: Siler, Halsell earn GNAC honors

Western Washington University sprinter Ellie Siler was named both Female Freshman and Newcomer of the Year and Pee Wee Halsell received Female Coach of the Year honors among the 2009 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field awards announced today.

Siler, who graduated from Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane, earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-America honors, placing fifth in the 400 meters (55.46) at the NCAA Division II National Championships. In the national semifinals, she ran a school record 54.49, the second-fastest time in GNAC history.

Siler also helped the Vikings to GNAC season-best times in both the 4x100 (47.88) and 4x400 (3:49.70) relays.

Halsell's Coach of the Year award was his seventh GNAC honor and 16th league award overall. He is completing his 23rd year as cross country and track coach at Western.

Halsell directed the Viking women to 17th place at nationals with four All-America performances and three team titles at scored meets during the regular season.

In all, Halsell has received five league Coach of the Year honors in women's outdoor track, five in men's cross country, four in men's outdoor track and two in men's indoor track.

Under Halsell's guidance, 63 Vikings have earned All-America honors in track and 20 in cross country. He also has had 28 Academic All-Americans in track and 21 in cross country and his teams have had 10 Top 10 national meet finishes in cross country and two in track.