May 17, 2006

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University fell three points short in its bid for a fifth straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Sports Team Championship.

The Vikings totaled 154 points to 157 for Seattle Pacific, which became the first school other than Western to claim the trophy. Central Washington was third with 141 points in the 10-team conference standings.

Western won the men's all-sports title for the fifth straight year, outscoring Central, 74-58. Seattle Pacific took its third consecutive women's all-sports title, finishing 20 points ahead of runner-up Central (103-83). Western was third with 80 points.

Points are awarded on a two-point increment based on the final conference finishes in each of the league's 14 sports -- football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field, baseball and softball.

Western won league titles in women's basketball and men's indoor track and field. Seattle Pacific claimed a conference-record six team titles. The Falcons placed first in five women's sports - cross country, soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field and were volleyball co-champions. They also took the men's basketball crown.

Central was the only school to win more than one men's title, taking top honors in football and outdoor track and field. The Wildcats also were volleyball co-champions.

Alaska Anchorage (men's cross country), Seattle (men's soccer), Western Oregon (baseball) and Humboldt State (softball) each won one championship.

Final 2005-06 GNAC All-Sports Standings

Combined - 1. Seattle Pacific 157, 2. Western Washington 154, 3. Central Washington 141, 4. Western Oregon 106, 5. Humboldt State 105, 6. Northwest Nazarene 100, 7. Seattle 97, 8. Alaska Anchorage 84, 9. Saint Martin's 41, 10. Alaska Fairbanks 29.

Men - 1. Western Washington 74, 2. Central Washington 58, 3. Seattle Pacific 54, 4. Western Oregon 50, 5. Humboldt State 46, 6. Alaska Anchorage 44, 7. Northwest Nazarene 40, 8. Seattle 28, 9.Saint Martin's 18, 10. Alaska Fairbanks 14.

Women - 1. Seattle Pacific 103, 2. Central Washington 83, 3. Western Washington 80, 4. Seattle 69, 5. Northwest Nazarene 60, 6. Humboldt State 59, 7. Western Oregon 56, 8. Alaska Anchorage 40, 9. Sain Martin's 23, 10. Alaska Fairbanks 15.