Willamette U Chooses Athletes of the Month

Bearcats award students with outstanding performance in athletics

Photos courtesy: Willamette University

SALEM - Willamette University is now choosing an Athlete of the Month based on athletic performances by its student-athletes in the 20 sports involving the Bearcats.

These are the selections for October, 2006: Sarah Zerzan (Jr., Women's Cross Country) and Ian Batch (Jr., Men's Cross Country).

Willamette's Sarah Zerzan

Sarah Zerzan

Cross Country

Junior

San Carlos, Calif. (Notre Dame High School)

Major: Chemistry (Biochemistry track)

Zerzan took first place in the women’s race at the Northwest Conference Championships. Her efforts also helped the Bearcats win the NWC women’s team title. Zerzan ran the 6-kilometer course at the Pacific Lutheran University Golf Course in 20:32.66 to win the event by 53.14 seconds. Willamette won the team title with 50 points, as the Bearcats surpassed the University of Puget Sound at the end of the race.

Zerzan broke the WU record in the 6K by more than 55 seconds. Earlier in the month, she won the women’s title at the Mike Hodges Invitational with a time of 16:25.11 for five kilometers. She defeated a talented field that included the University of Oregon. Zerzan also won the women’s title at the 32nd Annual Charles Bowles Invitational on Sept. 30, as she clocked in at 17.11.0 in the 5-kilometer race. She has been named NWC Runner of the Week three times this season.

Willamette's Ian Batch

Ian Batch

Cross Country

Junior

Eagle, Idaho (Capital High School)

Major: Rhetoric and Media Studies

Batch won the Northwest Conference individual men’s title, while leading the Bearcats to the NWC team championship on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Pacific Lutheran University Golf Course. In the process, he set a PLU course record. He completed the 8-kilometer course in 24:30.70 to win by 15.19 seconds.

He led the way, as Willamette’s first five runners all finished in the top 12 and WU’s first seven finishes were all in the top 14. Batch also took 16th place at the Mike Hodges Invitational on Oct. 14. He placed 11th and was Willamette’s top runner at the 32nd Annual Charles Bowles Invitational, hosted by the Bearcats on Sept. 30. He was chosen NWC Runner of the Week on Oct. 2.