PORTLAND, Ore. –
Della Lyle, a senior on the MSUB women's track and field team has been named the 2015-16 Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor track and field Female Newcomer of the Year the conference office announced Tuesday.
Lyle, a native of Buffalo, Wyo., is a graduate student in the psychology department at Montana State University Billings. After receiving her undergraduate degree at the University of Redlands in California, Lyle, came to the Yellowjacket program with one indoor and outdoor track and field season of athletic eligibility remaining.
"We really feel honored that Della was named GNAC Newcomer of the Year," MSUB head coach
Dave Coppock said. "She was a very successful runner at the University of Redlands and I was thrilled that she was looking at MSUB for graduate studies. Della has a very good work ethic and has helped push the other women on the team in our practices. Her attitude really helps as well. I think she's just happy to have this final opportunity to compete in college track."
At the conference indoor championships in Nampa, Idaho, on Feb. 19-20, Lyle scored six points for the Yellowjacket team. She placed fourth in the women's 5,000 meters, shattering the MSUB school record with a finish of 17:41.12. On Day 2, Lyle placed eighth in the women's 3,000 meter race smashing another MSUB record with a season's best time of 10:07.26.
Along with
Brielle Davis,
Janessa Williams, and
Rio Frame, Lyle was also a member of the distance relay team that placed seventh overall at the indoor championships with a time of 12:46.88 for two more team points.
"She did a great job at the GNAC Indoor Championships, picking up some points in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters and setting school records in both events as well," Coppock commented. "She really stepped up and filled in for the 800 meter leg in the Distance Medley immediately after finishing the 5,000 meters, which is a pretty tough feat. But, the team needed her and she was willing to give it a shot, so that tells a lot about her dedication."
Alaska Anchorage picked up both Athlete of the Year awards. Senior multi-event specialist Cody Thomas repeated as the Men's Athlete of the Year while senior distance runner Joyce Chelimo was selected as the Female Athlete of the Year. Michael Friess was selected by his peers as both the Men's & Women's Coach of the Year.
Central Washington multi-eventer Kodiak Landis was selected as the Male Newcomer of the Year. Western Washington sprinter Daniel Jones was named the Male Freshman of the Year and Simon Fraser 800-meter champion Addy Townsend was selected as the Female Freshman of the Year.
THE BUZZ: This is the second GNAC Newcomer of the Year award under Coach Coppock this year as senior Matt Winter was named the Male GNAC Newcomer of the Year in cross country.
UP NEXT: Lyle and the Yellowjackets head to the Carroll College Invitational on Apr. 2, in Helena, Mont.
