Sept. 17, 2003

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Four student-athletes from Mountain West Conference institutions have been named state winners for the 2003 NCAA Woman of the Year award. The NCAA Woman of the Year award recognizes outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership.

The U.S. Air Force Academy's Elia Burrill, a member of the Falcon fencing team, represented Colorado. UNLV's cross country and track participant Jessica Raelynn Zarndt represented Nevada. Katie Martin-Sabey, a BYU cross country and track student-athlete, represented Utah and Carrie Bacon, an All-MWC performer in basketball represented Wyoming.

Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia are represented among the 2003 state winners. Each NCAA member institution was invited to nominate a student-athlete for the 13th annual awards program. Of the 338 total nominations received, 176 came from Division I, 56 were submitted by Division II institutions and 106 were received from Division III schools.

A committee consisting of representatives from member institutions chose the state winners. That same committee will chose 10 finalists from among the 50 state winners. Selection criteria include grade-point average, athletics accomplishments and community service. The 10 finalists will be announced in the September 29 issue of The NCAA News. A national winner, chosen by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics from among the 10 finalists, will be announced during the 2003 Woman of the Year dinner November 1 at the Marriott Downtown Indianapolis.

Robin Roberts of ABC's "Good Morning America," and Nell Fortner, head coach of the Women's National Basketball Association's Indiana Fever, will serve as emcees for the event.