Wednesday, April 12, 2017

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Jorey Egeland, Montana State Billings
Junior • Billings, Mont.

Egeland won the steeplechase at the Bauer Invitational with a personal best time of 9:29.49. After conversion to 9:22.51 for altitude, the time is the third-best mark in the GNAC this season and is just five seconds short of a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark.

Also Nominated: Josiah Shelman (Saint Martin’s), Aaron Whitaker (Western Oregon), Ebu Camara (Northwest Nazarene).

MEN’S FIELD
Jakob Chamberlin, Concordia
Freshman • Bellingham, Wash.

Chamberlin placed second in the discus at the John Knight Twilight with a mark of 174 feet., 6.75 inches. He was the top non-Division I finisher in the event and earns the No. 3 spot in the event on the GNAC all-time list. It is the top mark in the GNAC this season and the seventh best mark in Division II.

Also Nominated: Craig Boyle (Saint Martin’s), Beau Ackerman (Montana State Billings), Kolton Koenig-Rohde (Western Oregon), Brandon Pless (Western Washington), Jared Webster (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Olivia Woods, Western Oregon
Sophomore • Troutdale, Ore.

Woods led a top-three sweep for the Wolves in the 400 meters at their own John Knight Twilight, winning with a time of 57.06 in less than optimal weather conditions.

Also Nominated: Alexi Whatley (Saint Martin’s), Josey Smiedala (Montana State Billings).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Kirby Neale, Saint Martin’s
Senior • Coos Bay, Ore.

Neale won the hammer throw at the John Knight Twilight with a school record mark of 183 feet, 6.25 inches. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark is the second best in the GNAC this season and 15th in Division II.

Also Nominated: Shaniah Schwend (Montana State Billings), Rachel Bartlow (Northwest Nazarene), McKenzie Warren (Concordia).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage did not compete last weekend. The Seawolves will compete this weekend in the Southern California trifecta of the Mt. SAC Relays, the Bryan Clay Invitational and the Beach Invitational.

• Sophomore Danielle McCormick won the women’s 800 at the Apr. 1 San Francisco State Distance Carnival in a time of 2:07.25, breaking the previous school record of 2:09.34 set by Ivy O’Brien in 2013. The mark was also a meet record, a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and is third in Division II this season.

• The 4x400-meter relay team of McCormick, Mary Kathleen Cross, Hayley Bezanson and Vanessa Aniteye ran a winning time of 3:41.93 at SF State. That broke the GNAC record of 3:42.05 set by Simon Fraser in 2011. The time is a NCAA provisional qualifier and is second best in Division II this season.

• To date, Alaska Anchorage has 11 NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers. The Seawolves have one automatic qualifier in senior Karolin Anders, whose score of 5,180 points in the heptathlon is the fifth best in Division II this season.

• Alaska Anchorage continues to be ranked in both USTFCCCA Division II national polls. The UAA women are ranked No. 11, dropping one spot from last week. The UAA men dropped eight spots in the national poll to No. 24.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington turned in some solid performances despite tough weather conditions at both the EWU Combined Events and the War X Meet in Spokane, Wash.

• Sophomore Alexa Shindruk became a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier, winning the 10,000 meters at the War X in 36:41.77. The mark is second best in the GNAC and 15th in Division II.

• The Wildcats swept the women’s hurdle events. Sophomore Mariyah Vongsaveng won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.04 seconds. Freshman Emily Bland won the 400-meter hurdles in 1:02.79. Both athletes contributed to CWU’s win in the 4x400-meter relay in a time of 4:00.10.

• Central Washington also had three individual event winners in the field events. Junior Aiyana Homer won the women’s shot put with a mark of 40 feet, 9 inches, while senior Angelique Whistocken won the women’s javelin with a mark of 133 feet, 5 inches. Freshman Grant Scarlett won the men’s long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 7.5 inches.

• The Wildcats had good performances at the EWU Combined Events. Sophomore Michael Forster placed second in the decathlon with a score of 5,764 points. Junior Ali Anderson placed second in the heptathlon with a score of 4,517 points while sophomore HarLee Ortega placed third at 4,431 points.

• Central Washington will be off this weekend. The Wildcats return to competition at home on Sat., Apr. 22, hosting the annual Spike Arlt Invitational.

CONCORDIA
• Wins in the throws and jumps highlighted Concordia’s efforts at the John KnightTwilight at Western Oregon.

• Senior McKenzie Warren won the women’s shot put once again, taking top honors with a mark of 53 feet, 5.5 inches. She also won the discus with a mark of 168 feet, 5.5 inches. Warren continues to have the top mark in Division II in the shot put (56-7.5) and is in the top-12 in both the discus and hammer.

• Sophomore Giovanni Brown was the Cavaliers’ lone men’s winner, taking the men’s triple jump with a mark of 44 feet, 2.5 inches. The mark is fifth best in the GNAC this season.

• Freshman Jakob Chamberlin took second in the men’s discus with a mark of 174 feet, 6.75 inches. The mark leads the GNAC and moves him to No. 3 on the GNAC All-Time List. For his efforts, Chamberlin was named the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week.

• Sophomore James Phillips took second in the men’s long jump with his mark of 21 feet, 8.75 inches, while senior Ethan Livermore placed second in the men’s 1,500 meters with a time of 3:58.80.

• Sophomore Tori Johnson took second in a weather-hampered women’s high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 1.25 inches.

• Concordia will not compete this weekend. The Cavaliers will head to Southern California on Apr. 21 and 22 to compete in the UCSD Triton Invitational.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Another school record and a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark topped Montana State Billings’ performances at the Bauer Invitational in Rapid City, S.D.

• Junior Sam Zook won both the men’s 100 meters and 200 meters and reset his own school record in the 200 in the process. He won the 100 meters with a time of 10.64 seconds. His time of 21.42 seconds in the 200 meters is No. 8 on the GNAC-AllTime List and ties him for the 33rd best mark in Division II this season.

• Sophomore Beau Ackerman notched a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the men’s javelin. His mark of 197 feet, 5 inches, is the best in the GNAC this season and ranks 20th in Division II.

• Junior Jorey Egeland had a solid performance in the men’s steeplechase, winning with a time of 9:29.49. The performance earned Egeland GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors and, when converted to 9:22.51 for altitude, is third best in the GNAC this season.

• The Yellowjackets had three more men’s event winners. Senior Garrett Love won the 10,000 meters with a time of 34:02.33. Freshman Marcus Lindquist won both horizontal jumps, taking the long jump (21-0.75) and the triple jump (42-0.5).

• Montana State Billings also had three women’s individual event winners. Sophomore Josey Smiedala won the 400 meters in a time of 1:00.97 and freshman Kassadee Kuoha won the discus with a mark of 117 feet, 5 inches. Sophomore Shaniah Schwend won the long jump with a mark of 16 feet, 4.25 inches.

• The Yellowjackets will host its lone home meet of the season this week, the Yellowjacket/Battlin’ Bear Invitational, on Thursday in Laurel, Mont.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Five solid individual event winning performances led Northwest Nazarene’s efforts at both the EWU Combined Events and the War X Meet in Spokane, Wash.

• Junior Payton Lewis won his first decathlon of the season with a score of 6,174 points. The mark was just short of the NCAA Championships provisional qualifier of 6,202 points.

• Junior Jared Webster picked up a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the men’s pole vault, winning at the War X Meet with a mark of 16 feet, 0.75 inches. The mark is second best in the GNAC and ties him for 16th in Division II this season.

• Senior Cole Hoberg won the men’s high jump and earned a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier with a mark of 6 feet, 8.75 inches. The performance is tied for best in the GNAC this season and tied for 19th in Division II.

• Senior Rachel Bartlow made it a sweep for the Crusaders in the high jump, winning the women’s competition with a mark of 5 feet, 5 inches.

• Senior Ebu Camara won the men’s 200 meters with a time of 22.24 seconds. Camara currently owns the second best mark in the GNAC this season with a time of 21.61 seconds.

• Junior Lexi Tubbs added a runner-up finish in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.18 seconds while sophomore Sierra Manzer took second in the women’s steeplechase with a time of 11:44.32.

• Northwest Nazarene will be at home this weekend, hosting the NNU Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• A school record in the women’s hammer for senior Kirby Neale highlighted Saint Martin’s performances at the John Knight Twilight.

• Neale was named GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after she won the hammer with a mark 183 feet, 6 inches. The mark is a SMU record, a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and is 15th best in Division II this season. It also moves Neale to No. 5 on the GNAC All-Time List.

• Sophomore Alexi Whatley was also a winner for the Saints’ women, capturing the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:05.08. The Saints also won the women’s 4x100-meter relay in a time of 59.84 seconds.

• Senior Josiah Shelman and sophomore Craig Boyle won events for the Saint Martin’s men. Shelman took Thursday’s 10,000 meters in a time of 33:26.10. Boyle won the men’s pole vault with a mark of 13 feet, 9.25 inches.

• In the sprints, sophomore Grace Hamre placed second in the in the women’s 200 meters with a time of 26.50 seconds. In the women’s distances, junior Yadira Lopez placed second in the 10,000 meters in 38:57.30 while sophomore Larissa Kolasinski placed third with a time of 39:40.30.

• Saint Martin’s is off this weekend. The Saints will return to competition on Apr. 21 and 22 at the CWU Spike Arlt Invitational.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Victories by freshman Lani Taylor in the women’s 400 meters and senior Kyra Brannan in the women’s long jump led Seattle Pacific’s efforts at the Emilie Mondor Invitational in Burnaby, B.C.

• Taylor took top honors in the 400 meters with a time of 56.76 seconds. Senior Cheryl Hong placed second in a time of 57.05 seconds. The mark for Taylor is the eighth best in the GNAC so far this season.

• Brannan won the long jump with a mark of 16 feet, 9.25 inches. The mark was well below her season best of 18 feet, 4.25 inches, thanks to the cold and blustery conditions.

• Senior Lloyd Bryam had the SPU men’s top finish, taking second in the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:09.26. Sophomore Jesse Phan was fourth in the 800 meters in 1:59.23 while senior Justin Ramsey was fourth in the 200 meters in 23.39 seconds.

• Other top women’s finishers included senior Sammi Markham, who finished second in the javelin with a mark of 122 feet, 11 inches. Freshman Scout Cai placed third with a mark of 110 feet, 11 inches.

• Seattle Pacific will head south this weekend for the big meet trifecta in Southern California, taking part in the Mt. SAC Relays, the Bryan Clay Invitational and the Beach Invitational.

SIMON FRASER
• The Clan notched five individual event winners while battling fog, wind and rain in their own Emilie Mondor Invitational at Terry Fox Field.

• Freshman Katherine Lucas won both the women’s 100 meters and 200 meters. She took the 100 meters in 12.21 seconds and came from behind to beat teammate Valda Kabia in a time of 24.99 seconds.

• Freshman Diana Voloshin added a victory in the women’s 100-meters in a time of 14.63 seconds. Junior Sophie Dodd was also a winner in the 800 meters in a time of 2:11.63 while junior Julia Howley notched a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the race with a time of 2:13.07.

• Freshman Nathan Mah made it a SFU sweep of the 100 meters as he took the men’s race in a time of 11.08 seconds.

• The women’s 4x100-meter relay team of Kabia, Chantel Desch, Kira Pederson and Lucas surged despite the weather to run a GNAC best time of 46.90 seconds. The mark is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier, ranks 24th in Division II and is sixth best in GNAC history.

• Simon Fraser will head to Southern California this weekend for the three big events, competing in the Mt. SAC Relays, the Bryan Clay Invitational and the Beach Invitational.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon athletes won four individual events while battling blustery conditions at their own John Knight Twilight meet.

• Sophomore Olivia Woods led a top-three sweep for the Wolves in the women’s 400 meters. Woods crossed first in 57.06. Junior Megan Rose was second in 58.16 seconds and junior Suzie Van De Grift was third in 58.32 seconds.

• Senior AJ Holmberg led a top-three sweep in the men’s 800 meters. Holmberg won in a time of 1:54.52. Sophomore Dustin Nading was second in 1:54.60 and senior Michael Chin placed third in a time of 1:55.26. In all, the Wolves took five of the top seven places in the race.

• Senior Nicole Maurmann led the women’s 1,500 meters from start to finish to win in a time of 4:43.79.

• Sophomore Aaron Whitaker won the men’s 400 meters in a time of 49.41 seconds. He just edged out junior Cody Warner, who placed second in a time of 50.03 seconds.

• The Western Oregon men won the meet with a score of 108 points while the WOU women placed fourth with a score of 73 points.

• Western Oregon will head south this weekend for the big three Southern California meets, the Mt. SAC Relays, the Bryan Clay Invitational and the Beach Invitational.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Solid efforts in the throwing events led Western Washington’s efforts in the blustery conditions at the Emilie Mondor Invitational in Burnaby, B.C.

• Sophomore Costel David collected the Vikings’ lone event victory of the meet, taking the men’s javelin with a mark of 172 feet, 4 inches.

• Junior Brandon Pless finished second in the men’s discus with a mark of 161 feet, 6 inches, which is fourth in the GNAC this weekend and fifth all-time in WWU history. Senior Bryan Lee placed third in the event in 142 feet, 4 inches.

• In the men’s sprints, senior Ryan McArthur placed third in the 400 meters in 49.83 seconds while freshman Alex Taylor was fourth in the 100 meters in 11.27 seconds. Sophomore Keaton Spiller placed fourth in the 800 meters in 1:58.02.

• Junior Deja Svastislaee led the WWU women with a third place finish in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:05.30. Sophomore Sophia Roberts took two third place finishes in the discus (103 feet, 11 inches) and the hammer (124 feet, 6 inches).  

• Western Washington will be in Southern California this weekend, taking part in the Mt. SAC Relays, the Bryan Clay Invitational and the Beach Invitational.