March 17, 2003

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University women's track and field sprinter Dania Swosinski has been named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Female Athlete of the Week for Mar. 9-15.

Swosinski, a junior from Tacoma (Wilson High graduate), was second in both the 200 and 400 meter events and ran legs on the victorious 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams at the Pacific Lutheran University Salzman Invitational. She posted automatic qualifying times for the GNAC championships in the 200 (25.94) and 400 (59.43), being the first person in the conference to do so in two events.

Western won the meet's overall championship and both the men's and women's division titles.

Swosinski was the Vikings' top sprinter last season, winning GNAC titles in both the 200 and 400. She narrowly missed the provisional qualifying standard for the NCAA Division II National Championships in the 400.

Western competes in the University of Washington Preview Meet at Husky Stadium on Saturday (10 a.m.).