OGDEN, Utah — Senior distance runner Sarah Dean has been named the Big Sky Conference Women's Track Athlete of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
 
Dean earned the award after running a Big Sky-leading 34:00.32 in the women's 10,000 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational Sunday at Stanford University, setting a new personal best by over 48 seconds. Dean's time ranks her 17th on the NCAA West Outdoor Qualifying list, essentially assuring her of finishing in the top 48 of the region and qualifying for the NCAA West Preliminary meet in Fayetteville, Ark., later this month.
 
Dean's time also moved her within nine seconds of Debbie Myra's 27-year-old school record in the 10,000 meters, and ranks her 10th all-time in the event within the Big Sky Conference.
 
Dean's honor comes in her first season competing in the 10,000 meters, and continues a standout 2013-14 school year for Dean. Dean became the first Viking runner to earn All-Big Sky honors in cross country since Melissa Tellford in 1999 in the fall, then broke the school record in the indoor mile during the indoor season. Dean has also qualified for the Big Sky meet in the 800, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters during the outdoor season, and has moved into the top five all-time at Portland State in six different events (second in indoor 3,000, fifth in outdoor 800, fourth in outdoor 1,500, third in outdoor 3,000, third in outdoor 5,000 and second in outdoor 10,000).
 
Additionally, Dean's athlete of the week honor marks the first time a PSU women's distance runner has been so honored since Staci Bielenberg earned the award in 2005.