USU’s Twitchell to represent WAC at NCAA awards ceremony

Utah State track athlete Jennifer Twitchell is one of two candidates who will represent the Western Athletic Conference at the 2007 NCAA Woman of the Year award, along with Hawai’i volleyball player Kanoe Kamana’o. The selections were made by the Senior Woman’s Administrators of the conference.

The NCAA Woman of the Year award acknowledges senior female student-athletes’ distinguished achievements in areas of service, leadership, athletics and academics. This year’s award will be announced October 27.

As a senior, Twitchell (Sandy, Utah) earned first-team All-America honors by placing fifth in the women’s mile at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. At the indoor WAC Championships, she won the mile and anchored USU’s winning distance medley relay team. Twitchell also qualified for the 2007 NCAA West Region Outdoor Championships in both the 800 and 1500 meters. During the 2006 cross country season, Twitchell earned first-team all-WAC honors with a fourth-place finish at the WAC Championships as she helped USU with the conference title. She holds school records in both the indoor mile and outdoor 1500-meters.

Twitchell, who was named Utah State’s Female Athlete of the Year in April, has also excelled in the classroom earning academic all-WAC and All-America honors. She is also involved in numerous community outreach programs as she volunteers at local elementary schools, along with leading youth groups in classes and athletics at her church. Twitchell also helped coach children in soccer and track, as well as assisting with an annual triathlon.

The WAC received several nominations for the 2007 Woman of the Year candidate positions, including Boise State golfer Katherine Street, Fresno State soccer player Rochelle Jagdeo, Fresno State basketball player Chantella Perera, Nevada soccer player Lauren Kinneman, New Mexico State volleyball player Jackie Choi, and San Jose State volleyball player Jessie Shull.