PORTLAND, Ore. – Both Derek Holdsworth and Maya Hopwood certainly made strong impressions throughout the season and on Monday the duo took home several Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors. Holdsworth received both the Male Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, while Hopwood was selected as the Freshman of the Year.
Holdsworth set a new standard for the 800-meter this season when his time of 1:47.74 not only won the UW Invitational, but that time stood as the fastest in all of NCAA Division II this season. His time set a new GNAC and WOU school record in the 800 and the time is fifth-fastest in GNAC history (all conditions) and tied for fourth this season across all college divisions. In addition, his time in the event is fifth in Division II All-Time. Holdsworth won the GNAC Championships in the 800-meters and was part of the 4x400 relay team that placed second at the championships. Holdsworth was set to compete in the 800 at the NCAA National Championships, along with the distance medley relay team having helped the team to the 11th and 12th fastest times in the event in NCAA Division II. He recently took home the USTFCCCA West Region Male Athlete of the Year award.
Hopwood burst onto the season this year as one of the top freshmen around, starting her season strong by winning the 55-meter at the Candy Cane Invite. She went on to clock a new school record in the 60-meter at the Boise State Challenge coming in with a time of 7.58. That time ranks her third all-time on the GNAC list and tied for 22nd in all of NCAA Division II, along with being an NCAA Provisional Qualifier mark. Hopwood went on to post a time of 25.17 in the 200-meter also in Boise to sit second on the WOU all-time list. At the GNAC Championships, Hopwood placed second in the 60 and then came in seventh in the 200.
