Track & Field | 3/24/2015 10:10:00 AM

PORTLAND, Ore. – After earning Western Oregon's third All-American honor since the University made the move to the NCAA, junior Badane Sultessa was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Male Newcomer of the Year when the post-season awards were announced Tuesday by the conference office.

"Badane is joy to coach and a wonderful teammate," said Head Coach Mike Johnson. "He is a compelling story of immigration, fortitude and success; a truly American story."

Sultessa, who finished fourth in the 800 meter run at this year's NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships, set a GNAC record in the prelims with a time of 1:50.73 before posting a time of 1:51.36 in the finals.

Throughout the indoor season, Sultessa continued to etch his name in the WOU record book as he currently sits second all-time in the 800 meter run a mere 1.03 seconds behind school-record holder Bruce Vogel (1:49.70 in 1972).

Along with Sultessa, Simon Fraser's Jennifer Johnson was named Female Newcomer of the Year.

Other awards that were handed out Tuesday were...

• Men's Athlete of the Year — Alex Donigian, Western Washington, and Cody Thomas, Alaska Anchorage
• Women's Athlete of the Year — Lindsey Butterworth, Simon Fraser
• Men's Freshman of the Year — Payton Lewis, Northwest Nazarene
• Women's Freshman of the Year — Paige Nock, Simon Fraser
• Men's Team Coach of the Year — Michael Friess, Alaska Anchorage
• Women's Team Coach of the Year — Karl Lerum, Seattle Pacific