BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University All-America hurdler Maurice Woodring added another honor to his historic 2026 season being selected as the GNAC Men's Track Athlete of the Year.
 
Woodring became the fourth Viking to claim the top outdoor athlete honor and first since Slater Hirst (Javelin) in 2015 and the second WWU runner to earn the honor joining Anthony Tomsich in 2007. Woodring is also the eighth in conference history to win the GNAC Freshman of the Year (2023) as well as athlete of the year.
 
The 2006 season for Woodring was highlighted by earning First Team All-America honors in his featured 400m hurdles event, placing third at the NCAA Division II National Championship in Emporia, Kansas. Woodring broke his own WWU and GNAC record in the vent running 50.50 to claim the NCAA bronze medal.
 
In addition to the All-America award, Woodring won his third GNAC title in the 400m hurdles, running what at the time was a conference record of 50.73 seconds to earn the GNAC Men's Performance of the Meet award. Woodring also won the hurdles event at the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational and placed 2nd at the UCSD Triton Invitational.
  The 2026 season feature many historic achievements for the WWU Track & Field program during the outdoor season. The Vikings swept the GNAC team titles, extending a string of 20 consecutive conference trophies stretched across the cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons dating back to the spring of 2023. The 2026 season featured 36 All-GNAC performances, 39 All-West Region awards, 14 All-America honors, 14 school records and 67 entries into the program all-time top 10.