NEW ORLEANS, LA – The incredible season of #17 University of Mary women's cross country senior Alyssa Becker gained another accolade this week as she was named the Central Region Athlete of the Year by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Becker is the fifth Marauder athlete to win the award.

Becker, who is from Seabeck, WA, has four victories this season. Her first was at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 20 against over 300 athletes with a time of 21:54.5. The next was in the regular season finale at home on Oct. 11, winning the Marauders Open with a time of 20:05.5.

Her postseason has been flawless so far. Becker won the NSIC Championship with a time of 19:51.2 and the NCAA Central Region Championship last Saturday, clocking in at 20:20.2. The two races Becker did not leave with a title this season featured NCAA Division I schools.

Becker joins Jennifer Agnew (2013), Alexis Zeis (2015-17), Jaiden Schuette (2018), and Ida Narbuvoll (2019) as Central Region Athletes of the Year from UMary.

There's one more chance to add to Becker's trophy case, as she will be competing in the NCAA National Championship alongside her Marauders teammates on Saturday, Nov. 23, in Sacramento, CA. UMary qualified for nationals after their third-place finish at regionals.

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