Simon Fraser University's Rowan Doherty was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference male athlete of the year for indoor track and field after a stellar season running for the Clan.
Doherty won the GNAC title in the indoor 3,000-metre race with a time of 8:31.30. He followed that up by ripping an even faster time at the NCAA Div. 2 indoor track and field championships, finishing seventh in the 3,000m and earning All-American status with a time of 8:16.14.
“I can't be happier with Rowan's 3000-m race,” stated SFU track and field head coach Brit Townsend in a press release following his performance at the NCAA championships. “Every time he steps on the track, he gives everything he has. It was no different this weekend and he was rewarded tonight with his second All-American trophy. I look forward to seeing what's possible for him in the upcoming outdoor season."
Doherty also helped SFU earn silver in the men’s distance medley relay at the NCAA Div. 2 championships, running the anchor mile to help the team set a new school record of 9:48.57 in the DMR, recording the fifth-fastest time in GNAC history.
Joining Doherty on the awards podium was sophomore transfer Pierre-Louis Detourbe, who was recognized as the GNAC's male newcomer of the year.
Teammates on the distance medley relay team which set a new GNAC Championships meet record of 9:58.18 and then earned second-place at nationals, Doherty and Detourbe were dominant competitors for SFU.
Detourbe placed second at the GNAC championships in the 3,000m with a time of 8:33.43 and was the leadoff leg on the Clan's DMR which was anchored by Doherty. Finishing 14th in the mile at the NCAA championships in 4:21.33, Detourbe’s best 3000m was equally as impressive and ranks No. 13 in Div. 2.
Along with teammates Nate St. Romain and Carlos Vargas, the DMR team made program history with their result, which stands as the fifth quickest mark in the GNAC all-time indoor top-10 list.
