June 1, 2005

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - For the fourth straight year, Western Washington University is the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Sports Champion. But its margin of victory was the smallest in the history of the award.

The Vikings took the overall title with its slimmest margin of the string, winning by just three points over Seattle Pacific, 161 to 158. Central Washington was third in the 10-team league with 146 points.

Last year, Western finished 18 points ahead of second-place Western Oregon. The Vikings finished 30 points ahead of the Wolves in the 2002-03 season and 40 points ahead of runner-up Central Washington in 2001-02.

Western had a 76 to 64 advantage in taking its fourth consecutive men's title. Seattle Pacific took the women's title for the second straight year, finishing four points ahead of Central Washington, 96 to 92. The Vikings were third with 85 points.

Points are awarded based on the final conference finishes in each of the conference'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.

Seven of the conference's 10 schools won at least one conference team title, led by Seattle Pacific with four. The Falcons took championships in men's cross country, women's soccer, women's basketball and women's indoor track and field.

Western won titles in men's indoor and outdoor track and field and tied for the crown in men's basketball. Central also claimed three titles - those coming in football, volleyball and women's cross country.

The all-sports crown capped an outstanding year for Viking athletics. In three sports not sponsored by the GNAC, Western placed first at the NCAA Division II national championships in women's rowing, fifth in women's golf and ninth in men's golf.

Final 2004-05 GNAC All-Sports Standings

Combined - 1.Western Washington 161, 2. Seattle Pacific 158, 3. Central Washington 146, 4. Western Oregon 117, 5. Seattle 93, 6. Northwest Nazarene 88, 7. Humboldt State 88, 8. Saint Martin's 63, 9. Alaska Anchorage 54, 10. Alaska Fairbanks 46.

Men - 1. Western Washington 76, 2. Western Oregon 64, 3. Seattle Pacific 62, 4. Central Washington 54, 5. Northwest Nazarene 42, 6. Humboldt State 37, 7. Seattle 24, 8. Alaska Anchorage 23, 9.Saint Martin's 23, 10. Alaska Fairbanks 21.

Women - 1. Seattle Pacific 96, 2. Central Washington 92, 3. Western Washington 85, 4. Seattle 69, 5. Western Oregon 53, 6. Humboldt State 51, 7. Northwest Nazarene 46, 8. Saint Martin's 40, 9. Alaska Anchorage 31, 10. Alaska Fairbanks 25.