uaa cross country

Chelimo, Tanui honored

Fresh off victories in last week's NCAA Division II West Region Championship, UAA cross-country runners Micah Chelimo and Susan Tanui were named the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association West Region Athletes of the Year on Wednesday.

For Chelimo, who also won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship last month, this marks the second straight season with the honor. Former UAA All-American Marko Cheseto took it in 2009 and 2010.

This is Tanui's first time as region athlete of the year, following former All-American Ruth Keino as the second straight female honoree from UAA.

The Seawolves, ranked No. 6 in the women's poll and No. 7 in the men's, will be back in action at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships on Nov. 17 in Joplin, Mo.

High school sports

Klaich, Carroll win Heisman

Nikolaevsk's Blake Klaich and Nenana's Karissa Carroll were recognized as Alaska's Wendy's High School Heisman winners on Monday.

The award goes to student-athletes who demonstrate strong academic achievement, athletic accomplishment and community leadership.

Klaich and Carroll, who both excel in basketball, emerged from a pool of applicants that were narrowed to 19 Alaskan finalists, and both are now being considered for the national honor.