Western Oregon University Athletics

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Four members of the Western Oregon University track & field team collected individual honors for their performances during the indoor season, as announced by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Thursday, Mar. 18.

Ashley Potter was voted the Outstanding Female Newcomer, while Matson Hardie and Sarah Kathrein earned the Male and Female Freshman of the Year awards, respectively. Head coach Mike Johnson also nabbed his third straight GNAC men's coach of the year award.

Potter, a sophomore from Springfield, Ore. (Thurston High School), won the triple jump at the GNAC Indoors with a conference-meet record leap of 38-10.50 (11.85m). That mark also moved her into first place in the Wolves' record books by 14.5 inches.

Kathrein, a freshman from Boring, Ore. (Sandy High School), placed second in the 200 (25.59) and third in the 400 (58.84) in the conference championships. With those times she also moved into first place in Western Oregon history in the 200m and into second in the 400m.

Hardie, a freshman from Bend, Ore. (Summit High School), was the Outstanding Male Performer in the conference meet after collecting 23.5 team points for the Wolves. He won the long jump with a meet and conference record mark of 23-8. He also placed second in the triple jump (47-4.25) and third in the high jump (6-2.75). His season-best mark in the triple jump (47-11.75) ranks second in conference history.

Johnson coached the men to a three-peat in the indoor championships as Western Oregon edged Western Washington 171-161.5 in the team scoring. Johnson has now won a total of nine GNAC Coach-of-the-Year awards also winning for men’s indoor in 2004, 2008 and 2009, women’s outdoor in 2004, 2005 and 2008 and men’s outdoor in 2004 and 2008. He was also named the USTFCCCA West Region Coach of the Year for a third consecutive year.

The Wolves will continue their season this Saturday, (Mar. 20), at the Oregon Preview.