Friday, May 12, 2017

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Concordia senior McKenzie Warren continued her record-breaking tear while Central Washington collected two individual championships to take the team lead after the first day of the GNAC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Friday at Western Oregon University’s McArthur Field.

Warren, the GNAC record holder in the shot put and the hammer, collected title in both events with meet record marks. She opened the day by taking the discus with a mark of 157 feet, 11.25 inches as Concordia took first, second and fourth in the event. She smashed the old meet record of 151 feet, 2.5 inches, set by Western Washington’s Megan Mortensen last year.

Warren then won the shot put with a mark of 54 feet, 3.75 inches, which was nine feet better than the former meet record of 46 feet, 0.75 inches, set by Montana State Billings’ Anica Knispel in 2011, and also bettered her own stadium record of 52 feet, 4.5 inches. She led top-three podium sweep for the Cavaliers.

Central Washington, meanwhile, used a pair of championship performances from senior McKenna Emmert and sophomore Alexa Shindruk to take the opening day lead with 52 points. Emmert won the pole vault with a mark of 12 feet in an event that saw athletes from Western Washington and Seattle Pacific earn the other seven places. Shindruk captured the 10,000 meters in a time of 35:58.99 while her teammate, senior Stephanie Rexus, finished second in a time of 36:05.48.

Alaska Anchorage wrapped up day one in second place with 47 points while Concordia and Seattle Pacific finished tied for third place with 46 points.

The Falcons benefited with some big scoring performances in the field events. Senior Kyra Brannan became a two-time champion in the long jump. Her mark of 18 feet, 11.25 inches was her first title since 2015. Sophomore Geneva Lehnert placed seconc with a mark of 18 feet, 4.25 inches. The Falcons also picked up 11 points in the pole vault with fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth place finishes.

Western Washington senior Brittany Grant was the other champion on the opening day, leading from start to finish to win the steeplechase in a time of 10:43.80.

The Wildcats also had the top qualifiers in the hurdles races. Sophomore Mariyah Vongsaveng was the top qualifier in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.21 seconds while junior Ali Anderson was the top qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:01.57.

Alaska Anchorage and Simon Fraser split the reamining four semifinals. Simon Fraser freshman Katherine Lucas had the top time in the 100 meters in 12.13 seconds as three UAA runners and three SFU runners made the finals. Lucas was also the No. 2 qualifier in the 200 meters, running 25.38 seconds. Simon Fraser senior Chantel Desch topped qualifiers in the 400 meters at 56.08 seconds.

Seawolves’ senior Mary Kathleen Cross was the top qualifier in the 200 meters as her time of 25.30 seconds topped three Clan athletes advancing to Saturday’s final. Freshman Danielle McCormick. The UAA record holder in the 800 meters, was the top qualifier in the event with a time of 2:10.79.

Second day action will begin at 10 a.m., with the hammer. Field event finals will be contested in the hammer, high jump, triple jump and javelin. Running events begin at noon with the 4x100-meter relay.