Friday, February 21, 2020
by Craig Craker, Northwest Nazarene Athletic Communications

NAMPA, Idaho – The Seattle Pacific women’s track and field team only one won individual title Friday, but its depth helped put the Falcons on top of the team standings after the first day of the GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Jackson's Indoor Center.

The Falcons scored 40 points while Central Washington is second with 39 points and Concordia third with 37 points.

Sophomore Peace Igbonagwam won the long jump title with a leap of 19 feet, 5.5 inches. It was her second consecutive title in the event.

Alaska Anchorage was the only school with two winners Friday as just two running events, three field events and the pentathlon wrapped up.

Alaska Anchorage junior Emmah Chelimo cruised to the title in the 5,000 meters in a time of 17 minutes, 21.08 seconds while senior teammate Elena Cano won the pentathlon with 3,543 points which is the eighth-best in GNAC history. Cano ended three-time defending champion Scout Cai of Seattle Pacific’s reign. Cai, who hadn’t competed in a multi-event this season, finished with 3,406 points.

Concordia’s Kori Sprague recorded the second-best weight throw in GNAC history, winning with a mark of 61 feet, 3 inches to win her second consecutive title in the event. Central Washington’s Halle Irvine won the pole vault title, clearing 12 feet, 0.75. inches.

In the pentathlon, Cano won the high jump at 5-4.5 and the long jump at 18-1, while Cai won the shot put with a throw of 35-11.25. Central Washington senior Sidney Trinidad won the 800 in 2:18.76 and the 60-meter hurdles in 8.91 seconds.

Simon Fraser's distance medley relay team collected its fourth title in the last five years. The team of Addy Townsend, Renate Bluschke, Megan Roxby and Mairin Shields-Brown cruised to a time of 12:03.55, finishing 13. seconds ahead of second-place Seattle Pacific.

In running event preliminaries, Western Oregon freshman Maya Hopwood is the top seed in the 60 meters in 7.59 seconds, Central Washington senior Erykah Weems leads the 200 in 24.74 seconds which is sixth all-time in the GNAC, Concordia senior Amelia Maguin leads the 400 in 57.43, Shields-Brown leads the 800 in 2:13.36 and Concordia sophomore Paige Johnson leads the 60-meter hurdles in 8.73 seconds which is 10th all-time in the GNAC.

The final day of the championships begins on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. with the high jump. Running events commence at 11:20 a.m. with the finals in the mile.