UW coach Greg Metcalf named Pac-12 harrier coach of the year...

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - For the third time in the past four years, University of Washington head coach Greg Metcalf (far left/photo by Mike Scott) was named the Pac-12 Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, the conference office announced Tuesday.

Conference awards are based on a vote of the Pac-12 head coaches. Metcalf led the Washington women to second at the Pac-12 Championships, and then on to a second-place finish at the NCAA Championships, falling just a few points shy of Georgetown for the national title. The Huskies also won the NCAA West Region title for the fourth year in a row, and had a big win at the adidas Wisconsin Invitational.

Metcalf was also named West Region Coach of the Year for the fourth year in a row. His previous Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors came in 2008 and 2009.

The Pac-12 release can be read here.

The University of Oregon's Matthew Centrowitz (left/photo by Paul Merca), who earned a surprise bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the IAAF world track & field championships in Daegu this summer, announced Tuesday that he will forego his final season of collegiate eligibility and turn pro.

Centrowitz will be represented by PACE Sports Management, the UK based athlete management company headed by Ricky Simms. PACE Sports Management’s roster includes triple Olympic Champion Usain Bolt, triple World Champion Vivian Cheruiyot, World Champions Mo Farah, Linet Masai, Phillips Idowu, Christine Ohuruogu & Jana Pittman.

“We are honored and delighted to work with Matthew and help continue his development as a professional athlete. Matthew was extremely impressive in 2011 and has the ability to be a major force in the event for years to come”, commented Simms.

The release from PACE can be read here.

Finally, according to a social media post, Northwest School senior Maddie Meyers, the reigning American high school record holder in the 2000 meter steeeplechase at 6:29.20, announced her intent to attend the University of Washington next fall.

Meyers, who won the Nike Border Clash in 2010 and was a Foot Locker cross country championships finalist that season, finished fifth in this year's Border Clash on November 20th in Beaverton on the Nike campus.

In 2011, Meyers finished sixth at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Villeneuve d'Ascq, France in the 2000 steeple, where she set her American high school record.

Keep in mind that this is not official until the school receives a national letter of intent, and the school cannot announce or comment on Meyers until the national signing date of February 1, 2012.

NOTE:  PACE Sports Management and the Pac-12 Conference contributed to this report.