Track & Field | 5/29/2014 1:31:00 PM

PORTLAND, Ore. – Western Oregon University student-athlete Tyrell Williams was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's Track and Field Newcomer of the Year Thursday.
 
Williams, who has played three years of football at WOU but competed in track and field for the first time at WOU this spring, was selected the GNAC Newcomer of the Year.
 
In the GNAC Championships, the junior won the 200 meters in a meet record-tying time of 21.32 and also finished third in the 100 meters (10.74). He finished 13th in the national meet in the 200 in a time of 21.31.
 
Williams' time of 21.19 in the 200 meters is second fastest in GNAC history. The Salem, Ore. native, is second all-time at WOU in 200 meters, and 10th in the 100 meters.
 
"Given everything he has accomplished this season, I'm not sure there was anyone else that could compete for that honor with him," Western Oregon Head Coach Mike Johnson said. "Not only was he great as a newcomer, but he was also an outstanding overall male athlete of the year candidate. There were a number of great candidates this year."
 
Cody Thomas, who placed seventh in the decathlon at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championship meet in Allendale, Mich., last weekend, was selected the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year. The University of Alaska Anchorage junior became just the second athlete in GNAC history to score 7,000 or more points in the multi-events. Prior to the national meet, Thomas earned Outstanding Performer honors in the GNAC Championship meet. 
 
Oliver Jorgensen of Simon Fraser was voted the GNAC Freshman of the Year after winning the conference title in the steeplechase (9:17.20) and placing third in the 5,000 (9:17.20).  Jorgensen, who competed in the national meet in the steeplechase, had a season-best time of 9:09.38, which ranks ninth in GNAC history.
 
Western Washington's Kelven Halsell was named the GNAC Coach of the Year led the Vikings to their fifth GNAC Men's Outdoor team title, matching Western Oregon's record for most championships, and to a 15th place finish in the national meet.