SEATTLE (Nov. 9) -- Doris Heritage of Seattle Pacific University have been voted the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's cross country coach of the year by her peers. It is the second GNAC Coach-of-the-Year award for both.

Heritage, now in her 29th season at her alma mater, led the Falcon women to their third conference title in the past four years this fall and to a second-place finish in the NCAA West Region meet. Her team qualified for the national meet for the first time since 1999 and freshman Jessica Pixler won the individual women's title, becoming the first SPU individual regional champion since Bente Moe in 1985.

It's the second time that Heritage has been GNAC women's coach of the year, and in 2004 she was the men's coach of the year. She was a unanimous choice for the women's award.

Kelven "PeeWee" Halsell of Western Washington edged Alaska Anchorage's Michael Friess 5-4 in the men's balloting.

SPU races for the NCAA title Nov. 18 in Pensacola, Fla.