SEATTLE (May 31) ­ Seattle Pacific University's Jessica Pixler has been unanimously voted the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Female Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year by a vote of the coaches.

The NCAA Division II champion in the 1500 meters and runner-up in the 800, Pixler adds this award to her GNAC Indoor Athlete of the Year honor. She was also named the West Region Track Athlete of the Year for both indoors and outdoors.

Karl Lerum was selected by his peers as the coach of the year. The Falcons won the GNAC championship for the second year in a row and took seventh place at the NCAA Championships.

The Falcons finished with five GNAC player/athlete of the year awards this season. Earlier award winners were Jenna Von Moos (volleyball) and Dustin Bremerman (men's basketball). Pixler had won the cross country championship in the fall.

Western Washington's Anthony Tomsich was the male outdoor athlete of the year.

Pixler broke GNAC records for the 800, 1500 and 3000 this spring, and won the conference title at each distance. She was also a unanimous choice for freshman of the year.

Pixler becomes Seattle Pacific's fourth winner of the GNAC track and field athlete of the year. Stephanie Huffman won in 2002 and Danielle Ayers-Stamper in '03 and '05.