Pixler & Schaaf among nominees for Seattle Sports Star of the Year...

We jumped on board late, but thanks to a news release from the Seattle Sports Commission, 2009 NCAA Division II cross country champion Jessica Pixler from Seattle Pacific, and NCAA Division I runner-up Kendra Schaaf (left/photo by Paul Merca) have been nominated as finalists for the Female Sports Star of the Year.

The event, formerly known as the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sports Star of the Year, will be held Tuesday January 19th at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle, and is sponsored by the Seattle Sports Commission.

Seattle sports fans will determine the winners in five different categories, including Female Sports Star of the Year, for which Pixler and Schaaf are competing. Also up for a fan vote are Male Sports Star of the Year, Professional Sports Star of the Year, FSN Sports Play of the Year, and Sports Story of the Past 75 Years.

Pixler won four NCAA titles during the 2008-09 school year and started the 09-10 year with her third straight Division II cross country crown.

Schaaf won the Pac-10 and NCAA West Regional harrier titles last year, as well as the Canadian national championship.

The event at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle begins with a reception and silent auction at 5:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this are $75.00 and can be purchased online at benaroyahall.org, or by calling 206-215-4747.

Information on the nominees in each of the five categories is available by clicking on this link. Voting may require downloading Microsoft Silverlight software.