Tuesday, May 14, 2019
KINGSVILLE, Texas – Led by large fields in both the women’s 800 meters and the women’s javelin, a total of 47 GNAC athletes will make the trip to Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Javelina Stadium for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships from May 23 to 25.
A total of 33 women and 14 men, representing nine of the conference’s 10 track and field programs, gained invitations to the national meet. Simon Fraser leads the way with nine individual selections while Alaska Anchorage had eight individual selections plus the women’s 4x400-meter relay.
The conference landed six athletes in both the women’s javelin and 800 meters, comprising over a quarter of the field in both events. The javelin is led by Northwest Nazarene senior Ellie Logan, who enters the meet with the third-best mark with a best of 165 feet, 6 inches. Alaska Anchorage senior Danielle McCormick, the two-time indoor champion in the 800 meters, is ranked No. 3 in that field with a time of 2:05.00.
Seawolves’ senior Caroline Kurgat is one of nine GNAC athletes qualified in two events and the only defending national champion. The Division II record holder in the 10,000 meters, Kurgat won both events at last year’s national meet in Charlotte, N.C.
Among the two-event nationals qualifiers include Kurgat, McCormick (800 meters and 4x400-meter relay) and Alaska Anchorage teammates Vanessa Aniteye (400 meters, 4x400-meter relay) and Chrisalyn Johnson (long jump, triple jump); Central Washington senior Alexa Shindruk (5,000 meters, 10,000 meters), Northwest Nazarene senior Jake Knight (shot put, discus), Seattle Pacific sophomore Dania Holmberg (1,500 meters, 5,000 meters) and junior Kate Lilly (1,500 meters, 5,000 meters); and Simon Fraser senior Julia Howley (5,000 meters, steeplechase).
The GNAC ended the season with 10 automatic qualifiers to the NCAA Championships. In addition to her two entered events, Kurgat also automatically qualified in the 1,500 meters. Other automatic qualifiers include McCormick in the 800 meters, Howley in the steeplechase, Logan in the javelin, Central Washington senior HarLee Ortega in the heptathlon, Central Washington sophomore Sidney Trinidad in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, Saint Martin’s freshman Tyler Cronk in the men’s high jump and Alaska Anchorage junior Wesley Kirui in the men’s steeplechase.
NCAA DIVISION II OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
GNAC ENTRIES
MEN
Alaska Anchorage: Edwin Kangogo (Steeplechase), Wesley Kirui (Steeplechase).
Central Washington: Braydon Maier (Decathlon).
Concordia: Giovanni Brown (Decathlon), Easton Christensen (Javelin), Sam Nichols (Discus), Dalton Rasmussen (Javelin).
Northwest Nazarene: Jake Knight (Shot Put, Discus).
Saint Martin’s: Tyler Cronk (High Jump).
Simon Fraser: Aaron Ahl (Steeplechase), Rowan Doherty (1,500 Meters).
Western Washington: Karlington Anunagba (100 Meters), Alex Barry (Javelin), Cordell Cummings (400 Meter Hurdles).
WOMEN
Alaska Anchorage: Vanessa Aniteye (400 Meters), Danielle McCormick (800 Meters), Ruth Cvancara (800 Meters), Nancy Jeptoo (1,500 Meters), Chrisalyn Johnson (Long Jump, Triple Jump), Caroline Kurgat (5,000 Meters, 10,000 Meters), 4x400 Meter Relay (Vanessa Aniteye, Tylantiss Atlas, Marie Ries, Danielle McCormick).
Central Washington: Halle Irvine (Pole Vault), HarLee Ortega (Heptathlon), Alexa Shindruk (5,000 Meters, 10,000 Meters), Sidney Trinidad (400 Meter Hurdles), Mariyah Vongsaveng (100 Meter Hurdles), Erykah Weems (400 Meter Hurdles).
Concordia: Chelsea Bone (Heptathlon).
Northwest Nazarene: Ellie Logan (Javelin).
Saint Martin’s: Liz Larson (Hammer), Keshara Romain (Triple Jump).
Seattle Pacific: Scout Cai (Pole Vault, Heptathlon), Dania Holmberg (1,500 Meters, 5,000 Meters), Kate Lilly (1,500 Meters, 5,000 Meters), Kaylee Mitchell (Steeplechase).
Simon Fraser: Miryam Bassett (1,500 Meters), Sophie Dodd (800 Meters), Lauren Fridman (Javelin), Julia Howley (5,000 Meters, Steeplechase), Alana Mussatto (800 Meters), Paige Nock (800 Meters), Chelsea Ribeiro (Steeplechase).
Western Oregon: Olivia Woods (800 Meters), Darian Wilson (Javelin).
Western Washington: Amanda Short (Javelin), Raquel Pellecer (Javelin), Paige Shimkus (Javelin), Maddie Taylor (High Jump).