April 3, 2003

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University men's track and field distance runner Zach Boteilho has been named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Male Athlete of the Week for March 23-29.

Boteilho, a senior from Camas, posted a NCAA Division II national provisional qualifying mark of 31:03.55 in the 10,000 meters last Friday at the Stanford Invitational. That was the second fastest time by a Northwest small-college Division II athlete since 1999.

Boteilho sat out last season, winning the 10,000 at the University of Oregon Invitational as an unattached athlete in a personal best clocking of 30:57.32.

Western hosts the 23rd annual Ralph Vernacchia Team Classic on Saturday (10 a.m.) at Bellingham's Civic Stadium.