SPOKANE, Wash. - Rookie Micah Chelimo was selected Thursday as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Track & Field Male co-Freshman of the Year for his performances during the 2010 season.

Chelimo set a new GNAC record in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays with a time of 8:49.31. The Kenyan then went on to break the conference meet record in the same event with a time of 9:02.79.

The 2009 GNAC Cross Country Male Freshman of the Year, Chelimo qualified automatically for the NCAA Championship in the steeple, where he picked up his first career All-America honor with a seventh-place result last week.

Chelimo also provisionally qualified for the NCAAs in the 1,500 meters and the 5,000 meters.