Turner Won the Whitman Invitational

Tonya Turner

Spokane, Wash. -- Whitworth's Tonya Turner has been named the Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week in women's cross country. The first NWC awards of 2009-10 were released on Tuesday morning.

Turner led the Pirates to the women's team title at last Saturday's Whitman Invitational, running to victory over the four kilometer course in a time of 14:34.76, well ahead of the second place runner from Lewis-Clark State.

Whitworth came into the meet ranked 25th in the USATFCCCA Division III poll. Whitman is 22nd in the DIII ratings, while LCSC is ranked 9th in the NAIA preseason poll. The final team scores were: Whitworth 33, Lewis-Clark State 40, Whitman 47, University of Great Falls 115.

Turner is in only her second season of competitive running. The junior from Spokane (Mead HS) came to Whitworth after a high school career as a pole vaulter and gymnast.

Whitworth will return to action in two weeks (Sept. 19) at the University of Washington Sundodger Invitational at Lincoln Park.