Portland, OR – Simon Fraser University women’s track and field runner Sarah Sawatzky (Chilliwack, BC) has been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Red Lion Track Athlete of the Week.
Sawatzky opened her 2014 indoor track and field season finishing sixth at the UW Indoor Preview in the 800m and leading the Clan through their first meet of the year.
Her time of 2:09.42 meets the provisional national qualifying mark, and is also the NCAA Division II leading time.
Sawatzky raced in the indoor 800m at the 2013 NCAA Division II Championships narrowly missing the final, before coming back in the 2013 outdoor season to finish sixth in the nation as an All-American.
The senior’s performance this weekend is the fourth best time in GNAC indoor history, a list that is topped by Simon Fraser alumna Helen Crofts and also features current and former SFU runners Lindsey Butterworth, Jessica Smith and Michaela Kane.
The Clan’s prowess in the 800m has also led to their 2014 national ranking debut where the women’s side sits in 16th as of January 14.
The SFU track and field teams will be back in action February 1 in Seattle, WA where they will compete in the University of Washington Invitational.