Tuesday, April 9, 2019

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Karlington Anunagba, Western Washington
Freshman • Lagos, Nigeria

Making his collegiate debut at the WWU Team Invitational, Anunagba won the 100 meters in a time of 10.77 seconds. The GNAC-leading time ranks No. 5 on Western Washington’s all-time list.

Also Nominated: Braydon Maier (Central Washington), Sam Zook (Montana State Billings), Michael Russell (Saint Martin’s), Rowan Doherty (Simon Fraser), Hunter Mosman (Western Oregon).

MEN’S FIELD
Sam Nichols, Concordia
Senior • Sparks, Nev.

Nichols won the discus at the John Knight Twilight on Friday, notching an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the process. Nichols threw 170 feet, 2 inches, ranking him second in the GNAC this season and 15th in Division II.

Also Nominated: Ethan Tonder (Central Washington), Craig Boyle (Saint Martin’s), Sam Cole (Western Oregon), Seren Dances (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Sidney Trinidad, Central Washington
Sophomore • Arlington, Wash.

Trinidad won the 400-meter hurdles at the War XII Meet in Spokane. Her time of 1:00.04 is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier, ranks No. 6 on the GNAC All-Time List and is tied for 10th in Division II this season. Trinidad also placed third in the 100-meter hurdles in 14.96 seconds.

Also Nominated: Karlie Hurley (Concordia), Ashley Vest (Saint Martin’s), Miryam Bassett (Simon Fraser), Grayson Burke (Western Oregon), Talia Dreicer (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Liz Larson, Saint Martin’s
Senior • Snoqualmie, Wash.

Larson won the hammer throw and improved her NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark at the WWU Team Invitational. Larson won by 27 feet with a mark of 188 feet, 3 inches, moving her to No. 5 in Division II this season and No. 5 on the GNAC All-Time List.

Also Nominated: Halle Irvine (Central Washington), Holly Taylor (Simon Fraser), Moana Gianotti (Western Oregon), Chanelle Eddy (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage is in the midst of a three-week break from competition. The Seawolves are in action next the weekend of Apr. 18-20 at the Mt. SAC Relays, Bryan Clay Invitational and Beach Invitational.

• Senior Caroline Kurgat was named the USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Athlete of the Week after setting a Division II record in the 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational on Mar. 29. Kurgat placed fifth in the invitational section of the race with a time of 32:08.29 that bettered the previous record of 32:28.57 set by Sylvia Mosqueda of Cal State LA in 1988. The NCAA Championships automatic qualifying mark ranks sixth in the world this season.

• Senior Danielle McCormick is also automatically qualified for nationals in the women’s 800 meters. Her school-record time of 2:04.65 at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic leads Division II. McCormick is also provisionally qualified in the 1,500 meters (4:32.17).

• Other women who have hit NCAA provisional qualifying marks for UAA include junior Vanessa Aniteye in the 400 meters (55.71, 15th), sophomore Ruth Cvancara in the 800 meters (2:11.43, 13th) and senior Chrisalyn Johnson in the triple jump (40-1.5, tie 9th) and the long jump (19-2.5, tie 15th). Men’s provisional qualifiers include sophomore Felix Kemboi in the 5,000 meters (14:28.84, 15th) and senior Edwin Kangogo in the steeplechase (8:56.08, 2nd).

• Alaska Anchorage’s women jumped four spots to No. 10 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Team Index, leading four top-25 GNAC teams.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• A pair of solid performances in the women’s hurdles led Central Washington’s efforts at the War XII Meet in Spokane, Washington.

• Sophomore Sidney Trinidad was named the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she won the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:00.44. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time ranks 10th in Division II and sixth on the GNAC All-Time List. Trinidad also took third in the 100-meter hurdles (14.96) and ran the leadoff leg of the Wildcats’ winning 4x400-meter relay team (3:54.49).

• Racing for just the second time during the outdoor season, senior Mariyah Vongsaveng won the women’s 100-meter hurdles in 14.47 seconds. She also placed fourth in the 100 meters (12.95).

• Sophomore Braydon Maier led the CWU men with his second-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 15.32 seconds. Sophomore Ethan Tonder took third place in the men’s shot put with a mark of 52 feet, 6.75 inches.

• Junior Halle Irvine placed second in the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 11 feet, 3.75 inches.

• Central Washington will head east once again on Friday, competing in the Eastern Washington Peuller Invitational before coming home on Saturday to host the CWU Wildcat Invitational on the new track at the CWU Recreation Sports Complex.

CONCORDIA
• A strong day in the throws led Concordia’s performances at the John Knight Twilight on Friday. The Cavaliers’ men tied for second with 107 points while the women placed third with 86 points.

• Senior Sam Nichols was named the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he won the discus with an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark of 170 feet, 2 inches. The mark ranks 15th in Division II this season and No. 9 on the GNAC All-Time List.

• Senior Easton Christensen was a winner in the men’s javelin with a mark of 193 feet, 2 inches. Senior Josh Koch was a winner in the men’s shot put with a mark of 53 feet, 5.5 inches.

• Junior Katrina Linenko led the women’s throwers with her winning performance in the shot put with a mark of 45 feet, 5.5 inches. Sophomore Elizabeth Stottlemyre finished fourth in the javelin with a mark of 125 feet, 1 inch.

• Junior Karlie Hurley took top honors in the women’s triple jump with her leap of 36 feet, 8.5 inches. She went on to place second in the women’s 100 meters in 13.02 seconds while senior Maddie Misi was third in 13.06 seconds.

• The women’s 4x400-meter relay team of Macie Allen, Hurley, Ronni VanZant and Misi was a winner in 48.01 seconds.

• Concordia will send a number of athletes to the UCSD Triton Invitational this weekend in La Jolla, California, with the balance of the team competing at the Jay Hammer Invitational on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Season-best marks by the women’s triple jumpers led Montana State Billings’ performances at the Colorado Invitational.

• Senior Janessa Williams and junior Brenna Beckett finished 12th and 13th, respectively, with Williams leaping 34 feet, 9.5 inches and Beckett clearing 34 feet, 7.75 inches.

• Junior Isaiah Girard equaled his season-best and school record in the men’s high jump, clearing 6 feet, 9 inches to place fourth. Senior Beau Peaslee finished fifth in the men’s javelin with a mark of 171 feet, 4 inches.

• In the sprints, senior Sam Zook took fifth place in the men’s 100 meters with a time of 11.04 seconds. He finished second among Division II competitors in the event.

• The distances were led by junior Nikki Aiken, who placed fifth in the women’s steeplechase with a time of 12:12.14.

• Montana State Billings will head back to South Dakota for the second time this season, competing at the Bauer Invitational on Saturday in Rapid City.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene did not compete last weekend. The Nighthawks will host their second and final home meet of the season, the NNU Open, on Saturday.

• The Nighthawks continue to be led by Jake Knight. The senior enters the week ranked eighth in Division II in the men’s discus at 177 feet, 10 inches, and 11th in the shot put at 58 feet, 1 inch. Both marks are NNU school records and NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers.

• Sophomore Dakota Tidwell leads the GNAC and is ranked 12th in the men’s decathlon, having finished with a score of 6,708 points at the NNU Invitational. The mark is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier.

• Senior Ellie Logan is the only NNU women’s athlete to be provisionally qualified for nationals so far this season. Her mark of 152 feet, 9 inches, ranks seventh in Division II and is third in the GNAC.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Improvement on a national qualifying mark by senior Liz Larson and a school record by freshman Keshara Romain led Saint Martin’s performance at the WWU Team Invitational.

• Larson was named the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after she won the hammer by 27 feet. Her mark of 188 feet, 3 inches, is fifth in Division II this season and No. 5 on the GNAC All-Time List.

• Romain set the school record in the women’s long jump, winning the event with a mark of 18 feet, 7.75 inches. She also took top honors in the triple jump with a mark of 37 feet, 0.5 inches.

• The Saints took the top-two places in the men’s pole vault. Senior Craig Boyle won with a mark of 15 feet, 1.5 inches, while senior Chris Rickard placed second at 14 feet, 9.5 inches.

• In the women’s throws, senior Megan Vernoy won the discus with a mark of 145 feet, 2 inches.

• The men also scored a win in the 4x100-meter relay with the team of Logan Armstong, Michael Russell, Josh Schulz and Jackson Hand finishing in a time of 42.31 seconds.

• Saint Martin’s will host its lone home meet of the season, the Jay Hammer Invitational, on Saturday in Lacey, Washington.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Season-best performances in an unusual women’s pole vault competition led a limited Seattle Pacific roster competing at the WWU Team Invitational.

• The event was moved inside from Civic Stadium to the adjacent SportsPlex due to high winds. Freshman Madison Licari was unphased, finishing third with a mark of 11 feet, 3.75 inches. Freshman Emma Lambert also cleared 11-3.75, placing fourth.

• Freshman Rebecca Troescher was the lone event winner for the Falcons in Bellingham, winning the women’s 400 meters in 1:00.1. Troescher also placed third in the 200 meters in a time of  26.8 seconds.

• Freshman Krystal Kaufman finished second in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:16.88.

• The SPU men were led by freshman Sean Barbour, who placed fifth in the indoor-outdoor pole vault with a mark of 13 feet, 9.75 inches. Freshman Silas Newby finished sixth in the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 5.75 inches.

• Junior Shayne Carpenter led the men’s efforts on the track, placing sixth in the 110-meter hurdles in 16.47 seconds.

• The Falcons’ women are ranked No. 22 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Team Index.

• The Falcons will continue to compete close to home, taking part in the Jay Hammer Invitational on Saturday in Lacey, Washington.

SIMON FRASER
• Competing against a clearly Canadian field, Simon Fraser won 14 events and scored 30 top-three finishes at their own Emilie Mondor Invitational in Surrey, B.C.

• The impressive number of winners and top-three finishes earn the Clan selection as the GNAC Team of the Week.

• Senior Miryam Bassett led the winners, taking the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:13.14. Bassett led a top-six sweep in the event by the Clan. Mairin Shields-Brown placed second in 2:13.60.

• Sophomore Holly Taylor had top-four finishes in all four throws. She won the women’s hammer with a mark of 162 feet, 2 inches, placed second in both the shot put (38-11.5) and the discus (126-6) and was fourth in the javelin (121-10). Freshman Lauren Fridman won the javelin with her mark of 132 feet, 9 inches.

• Freshman Timothy Hatton added a victory in the men’s javelin with a mark of 177 feet.

• In the women’s sprints, sophomore Meyer Quaynor won the 100 meters in 12.38 seconds while freshman Emily Lindsay won the 200 meters in 25.30 seconds. The Clan also won both relays, taking the 4x100-meter relay in 48.52 seconds and the 4x400-meter relay in 3:49.35.

• Senior Sean Miller led the men’s track efforts, winning the 1,500 meters in a time of 3:56.43 while junior Thomas Gallagher was second in 3:59.53. The Clan also won both men’s relays with the 4x100-meter relay running 42.56 seconds and the 4x400-meter relay running 3:21.03.

• The Simon Fraser’s women are ranked No. 13 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Team Index.

• Simon Fraser will head to southern California this weekend, taking part in the UCSD Triton Invitational in La Jolla.

WESTERN OREGON
• The distance runners and throwers shined for Western Oregon under the lights at their own John Knight Twilight on Friday.

• The Wolves scored victories in both 400-meter races. Senior Olivia Woods captured the women’s race in a time of 58.13 seconds, leading three WOU athletes to finish in the top-four. Freshman Gabe Arce-Torres won the men’s one-lap with a time of 49.38 seconds.

• Junior Hunter Mosman took 10 seconds off of his season-best in the men’s steeplechase, winning in a time of 9:29.41. Junior Justin Crosswhite added a victory in the men’s 1,500 meters in a time of 3:53.42, leading a top-three WOU sweep in the race.

• Sophomore Moana Gianotti improved her lifetime best in the women’s discus, winning with a mark of 141 feet, 10 inches. Sophomore Darian Wilson was the winner of the women’s javelin with her mark of 138 feet, 3 inches.

• The Wolves sent a limited number of athletes to the Linfield Jenn Boyman Memorial Invitational in McMinnville, Oregon on Saturday. Junior Grayson Burke was the winner in her first-ever women’s 400-meter hurdles race in a time of 1:07.60. Sophomore Rachel Bayly was the winner in the women’s 800 meters by more than two seconds with a time of 2:28.91.

• Western Oregon will compete close to home once again this weekend, taking part in the Pacific Luau Invitational on Saturday in Forest Grove, Oregon.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• An outstanding debut for freshman Karlington Anunagba and 17 individual event victories led Western Washington’s performances at their own WWU Team Invitational on Friday.

• Anunagba was named the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he won his first collegiate race, taking the 100 meters in a time of 10.77 seconds. The time is the fastest in the GNAC this season and the sixth-fastest in WWU history.

• Sophomore Bryant Welch won the men’s 400 meters in a personal-best 48.95 seconds. Senior Kyler Sager took the men’s 800 meters in a time of 1:52.46 while senior James Jesperson won the 5,000 meters in 15;02.7.

• Junior Cordell Cummings won both men’s hurdles races, winning the 110-meter hurdles in 15.15 seconds and the 400-meter hurdles in 55 seconds. Sophomore Molly House was the winner of the women’s 100-meter hurdles in a time of 16.60 seconds.

• The Vikings’ top women’s performances came in the field events. Senior Maddie Taylor won the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 5.75 inches. Junior Lexi Perry won the pole vault with a personal best mark of 11 feet, 7.75 inches.

• In the throws, freshman Paige Shimkus won the women’s javelin with a mark of 142 feet, 8 inches. Junior Chanelle Eddy was the winner of the women’s shot put with a mark of 41 feet, 1 inch.

• Sophomore Talia Dreicer led the WWU women’s performances on the track, winning the steeplechase in a time of 10:58.11. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time ranks 16th in Division II this season.

• Western Washington’s women are ranked No. 21 in last week’s USTFCCCA Division II Team Index.

• The Vikings will host its first home meet of the season, the WWU Team Invitational, on Friday.