Monday, February 1, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – Episode 81 of the weekly online radio show – GNAC Insider – aired on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Pacific time. The episode featured Saint Martin’s distance runner Shannon Porter, Western Washington softball first baseman and designated hitter Jordan Walley and Western Oregon baseball outfielder Cody Sullivan.

Porter is a senior distance runner for the Saint Martin’s track and field team. She set an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the women’s 5,000 meters at the UW Invitational, finishing in a time of 16 minutes, 57.09 seconds. The time also broke her own school record in the event. Porter is coming off her first year with Saint Martin’s after transferring from Treasure Valley CC before her junior season. During the 2015 outdoor season, she became the first SMU athlete to compete in two events at the NCAA Championships. She placed ninth in the 10,000 meters and 22nd in the 5,000 meters. Porter spoke about her impressive start to the track and field season, how to prepare for a long season and the opportunity to run at the Nike House of Track this week.

Walley enters her senior season on the Western Washington softball team, who was picked to finish first place in the preseason coaches poll. Walley ranks third in Vikings’ history with 16 home runs after belting a team-leading seven home runs last season. She also drove in 18 runs and scored eight while starting 31 games for Western Washington. The Vikings placed second in the 2014 regular season and were the runners-up at the GNAC Championships. Walley finished 6 for 8 in the conference tournament, driving in four runs and scoring three in three games. Western Washington opens the season at the Desert Stinger in Las Vegas where they will play five games. Walley was selected to the all-tournament team at the Desert Stinger as a sophomore. Walley spoke about her power hitting ability, the team being picked first in the preseason coaches poll and playing in the Desert Stinger once again this year. 

Sullivan is a senior outfielder for the Western Oregon baseball team. He became a regular starter for the Wolves last season, hitting .324 with two home runs, 34 RBI and 23 runs scored in 145 at-bats. Sullivan added 12 doubled, led the team with four triples and was named to the Second Team All-GNAC. Western Oregon was voted to reclaim the GNAC regular season title this year in the preseason coaches poll. The Wolves won the GNAC tournament championship in Billings, Mont., in 2015. Western Oregon opens the season at Azusa Pacific on Thurs., Feb. 4, for a four game series. Sullivan spoke about being picked first in the preseason coaches poll, opening the season down in California at Azusa Pacific and what he hopes to do as a senior.

GNAC Insider is hosted by Rob Lowery airing live at 7 p.m. Pacific every Tuesday and is produced by the conference office. All episodes become available as free podcasts via iTunes. To listen to archived episodes go to GNAC.TV.