Thursday, February 11, 2016

THIS WEEK'S GNAC TRACK ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Travis Milbrandt (Western Washington, Sr., Longview, Wash. – Mark Morris): Milbrandt won the 60-meter hurdles at the TrackTown USA High Performance Meet #4, clocking a time of 8.14 in the finals. He ran a season-best 8.13 seconds in the preliminary heats, which ranks as the 13th best mark in Division II.

Also Nominated: David Cornish (Western Oregon), Isaac Mitchell (Northwest Nazarene), Robert Peterson (Montana State Billings), Cameron Proceviat (Simon Fraser), Paris Seidel (Concordia), Latrelle Swayne (Saint Martin’s).

MEN’S FIELD
Vladislav Tsygankov (Simon Fraser, So., Moscow, Russia - 1521): Tsygankov earned the honor for the second straight week after winning the long jump at Thursday’s Portland Indoor Invitational with a leap of 23 feet, 5.5 inches. He went on to finish fourth in the 200 meters in Friday’s TrackTown USA High Performance Meet #4 with a time of 22.35 seconds.

Also Nominated: Craig Boyle (Saint Martin’s), Kyle McLaughlin (Northwest Nazarene), Morgan Shipp (Concordia).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Shannon Porter (Saint Martin’s, Sr., Vancouver, Wash. – Treasure Valley CC): Porter set another school record in the 3,000 meters, winning the B section at the TrackTown USA High Performance Meet #4 in a time of 9:51.99. The performance is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and ranks her 18th in Division II. Porter is now provisionally qualified in both the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters.

Also Nominated: Della Lyle (Montana State Billings), Alana Mussatto (Simon Fraser), Caitlyn Safley (Concordia), Taylor Van Valey (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Ella Brown (Simon Fraser, Jr., Armstrong, B.C. – Pleasant Valley): Brown won the triple jump at Thursday’s Portland Indoor Invitational with a leap of 37 feet, 6.75 inches. The performance is the second best in the GNAC this season and just missed a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier.

Also Nominated: Emmi Collier (Western Oregon), Christina MacDonald (Concordia), Kirby Neale (Saint Martin’s).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage was the only GNAC team not to compete last week. The Seawolves will return to competition this weekend at the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday.

• Joyce Chelimo is one of two GNAC automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Championships with her 11th place time of 16:22.93 in the women’s 5,000 meters at the UW Invitational. The performance moved Chelimo to No. 3 on the GNAC all-time list and is No. 2 in Division II this season.

• The Seawolves have three NCAA provosional qualifiers each in the men’s 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. Dominic Notz is currently ranked 10th in the 5,000 meters with his time of 14:25.26. Henry Cheseto is 11th in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:26.83 and Michel Ramirez is 20th with his time of 14:42.02. Edwin Kangogo leads the 3,000-meter qualifiers, ranked 35th with a time of 8:25.52. Cheseto is 36th in 8:25.61 and Ramirez is 39th in 8:26.02.

• Rosie Smith broke the UAA record in the 60-meter hurdles at the UW Invitational two weeks after she broke the Seawolves’ record in the open 60 meters. Smith placed 10th in the preliminaries with a time of 8.66 seconds, which is No. 3 on the GNAC all-time list and tied for 14th in Division II this season.

• Cody Thomas broke the UAA record in the men’s 200 meters at the UW Invitational with a time of 22.48 seconds. The time currently leads the GNAC. Thomas also placed seventh in the 60 meters in 7.04 seconds. In addition, Thomas currently ranks third in Division II in the heptathlon with a score of 5.324 points.

• Karolin Anders set a school record in the women’s high jump at the UW Invitational with her leap of 5-8. The performance currently ties her for third in Division II. Anders is also fifth in Division II in the pentathlon with a score of 3,813 points.

• Jamie Ashcroft is provisionally qualified for nationals in both the women’s 60 meters and the 200 meters. Her time of 7.66 seconds in the 60 is tied for 26th in Division II while her time of 24.67 seconds in the 200 meters is 12th.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Nine Central Washington athletes and the men’s 4x400 relay team captured top-three finishes at the Cougar Indoor on Friday and Saturday in Pullman, Wash.

• Amanda Youngers finished in second place in both the women’s shot put and weight throw. Youngers posted a mark of 42-9.75 in the shot put, moving her to sixth on the GNAC seasonal best list. Her mark of 49-3.5 in the weight throw is seventh in the GNAC.

• Madison Garcia placed third in the women’s 200 meters. Her time of 26.28 seconds ranks No. 7 on the GNAC season best list. Alex McIntosh placed third in the men’s 200 meters with a time of 23.18 seconds, which ranks 10th in the GNAC.

• Ashley Harmon notched a second place finish in the women’s 400 meters in a time of 59.62 seconds. The performance currently ranks 10th in the GNAC. Mariyah Vongsaveng moved up to No. 3 on the GNAC season list in the women’s 60-meter hurdles with her third place time of 8.86 seconds.

• Kent McKinney currently leads the GNAC in the men’s 60 meters with his time of 6.95 seconds at the UW Invitational. Luke Plummer is the GNAC leader in the men’s triple jump with his effort of 48-6 at the UW Invitational.

• Central Washington heads to the west side of the state this weekend, competing in both the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday and the UW Open on Sunday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia posted a number of solid performances at the House of Track last week, competing in both the Portland Indoor Invitational and the TrackTown USA High Performance Meet #4.

• Carlos Ortiz placed in the top-three in both the men’s 60 meters and 200 meters at the Portland Indoor Invitational. Ortiz was second in the 60 with a time of 7.02 seconds, tying his season best. He then placed third in the 200 with a season best of 22.13 seconds, ranking him fourth in the GNAC.

• Josh Koch won the shot put at the Portland Indoor Invitational with a mark of 52-8 while teammate Morgan Shipp was second in 49-10.5. Koch currently owns the 14th best mark in Division II and leads the GNAC in the shot put with a best of 55-7.75.

• Christina MacDonald and Rachel McKinnis placed second and third, respectively, in the women’s shot put at the Portland Indoor Invitational. MacDonald placed second with a mark of 44-9.75 while McKinnis was third with a mark of 41-1.5. MacDonald has the 30th best mark in Division II with her season best of 44-8.25.

• Paris Speidel placed second in the men’s 800 meters in the Portland Indoor with a time of 1:53.26. The performance is fifth best in the GNAC this season and is 25th among Division II athletes.

• Sophomore McKenzie Warren broke her own GNAC record in the women’s shot put for the third consecutive week at the UW Invitational a mark of 55 feet, 3.5 inches. The performance is the best in Division II this season and is tied for 10th best among college competitors in all divisions. In addition, Warren’s mark surpasses the qualifying mark for the USATF Indoor Track Championships, Mar. 11-12 in Portland. She is currently tied for 17th in the nation according to Track & Field News’ indoor top marks list.

• Tyler Lamott leads the GNAC and has the 19th best mark in Division II in the weight throw with his mark of 58-9.5 at the UW Invitational.

• Concordia will complete its warm-up to its first GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships by competing in the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday.

• Concordia is in the second year of a three-year transition process to NCAA Division II membership. This is their first year competing in full Division II and GNAC schedules. While the Cavaliers are eligible to compete in the GNAC championship, they are not eligible to qualify for the NCAA Championships.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings finished with seven top-three placers, including both distance medley relay teams, at the Mountain State Games at Idaho State’s Holt Arena.

• Rio Frame won the open heat of the women’s 3,000 meters with a time of 10:53.41. Della Lyle placed second in the invitational section of the 3,000 with a time of 10:19.90. Lyle’s performance is eighth best in the GNAC this season (converted to 10:06.66).

• Josh Panasuk won the men’s 3,000 meters with a time of 8:51.44. His time, converted to 8:40.09, ranks ninth in the GNAC this season.

• The men’s distance medley relay of Panasuk, Landon Polkow, Liam McKay & Robert Peterson won with a time of 10:10.07. The women’s DMR of Frame, Josey Smiedala, Brielle Davis and Lyle placed third in a time of 12:42.43.

• Davis placed second in the women’s 800 meters in a time of 2:27.80 while Smiedala placed third in the 400 in a time of 59.04 seconds.

• Montana State Billings will not compete again before the GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 19 and 20.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene picked up seven top-three placers at the Jacksons/New Balance Indoor Invitational at the Jacksons Sports Center.

• Lexi Tubbs was the winner in the women’s 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.85 seconds. The performance ranks second in the GNAC this season and missed the NCAA Championships provisional qualifier by .01 seconds.

• Taylor Van Valey improved her NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the women’s shot put with her fifth place mark of 43-7.75. The performance ties her 38th in Division II this season. In addition, Van Valey is tied for 42nd in Division II in the weight throw with her mark of 53-7.5

• Isaac Mitchell notched a second place finish in the men’s mile in 4:18.37, ranking him ninth in the GNAC.

• Kyle McLaughlin finished second in the men’s high jump with a season best of 6-5. The mark ranks fifth in the GNAC. John VanBeuren added a third place finish in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 54-6.5.

• Taylor Deskins notched a third place finish in the women’s 60 meters in a time of 7.89 seconds while Carli Shaul was third in the triple jump with her mark of 33-9.5.

• Competing at Cougar Indoor in Pullman, Wash., Payton Lewis won the men’s pentathlon with a score of 4.897 points. In the process, Lewis won the pole vault with a mark of 16-0.75 and the shot put with a mark of 39-7. Lewis currently ranks 16th in Division II in the pentathlon with a score of 4.963 points.

• The Crusaders return to the Jacksons Indoor Center on Saturday for the Boise State Team Challenge.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s picked up two top-three performances and saw a number of solid performances at both the Portland Indoor Invitational and TrackTown USA High Performance Meet #4.

• Shannon Porter was named GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she won the B section of the 3,000 meters at the TrackTown High Performance Meet. Her time of 9:51.99 was a school record, a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and ranks 18th in Division II. Porter had previously set a school record and provisionally qualified in the 5,000 meters.

• The Saint’s men’s distance medley relay team of Andrew Walter, Jasper Heckman, Joe Edgecomb and Mitchell Hughley won in a time of 11:17.03. The men’s 4x400 relay team of Jackson Hand, Mitchell Hughley, David Durden and Mikel Smith placed second in 3:29.55.

• Latrelle Swayne placed fourth in the men’s 60 meters in a time of 7.04 seconds, just off of his season best performance of 6.97 seconds from December’s Jacksons Open.

• Kirby Neale finished third in the women’s shot put with a performance of 41-5.75. Neale continues to rank fifth in the GNAC with her season best of 42-10.75 at December’s Jacksons Open.

• Saint Martin’s wll finish their run-up to the GNAC Championships with the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday and the UW Open on Sunday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Top-eight performances for Jahzelle Ambus and Mario Lopez highlighted Seattle Pacific’s performances at the Track Town High Performance Meet #4 on Friday.

• Ambus placed fourth in the women’s 400 meters with a time of 56.92 seconds. The performance was just short of her season best of 56.57 seconds, which is a NCAA provisional qualifier and is tied for 16th in Division II this season.

• Lopez was the Falcons’ top men’s placer, finishing seventh in the 200 meters with a time of 22.66 seconds. The time is a season best and ranks eighth in the GNAC this season

• Lynelle Decker is one of two GNAC athletes to have earned automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Championships. Decker earned the mark in the women’s 800 meters, running 2:09.38 at the UW Invitational on Jan. 29. The time is currently second best in Division II and is the seventh best time in GNAC history. The performance means Decker has qualified for four NCAA indoor track and field championships.

• Anna Patti is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier in both the women’s 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. Patti’s time of 9:58.84 in the 3,000 is 29th in Division II. She is one of six GNAC athletes provisionally qualified in the event. Patti owns a season best of 17:04.71 in the 5,000 meters, ranking 11th in the GNAC and 10th in GNAC history.

• Geneva Lehnert is provisionally qualified in the women’s high jump and is tied for 11th in Division II with her mark of 5-7. Mailea Luquin is provisionally qualified in the women’s pentathlon and is 24th in Division II with 3.389 points.

• Seattle Pacific continues competition this weekend with the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday and the US Open on Sunday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser athletes added three NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks and improved a fourth with performances at the Portland Indoor Invitational and the TrackTown High Performance Meet #4.

• Cameron Proceviat notched his first provisional qualifying mark of the season in the men’s 800 meters, winning at the Portland Indoor Invitational with a time of 1:52.13. The performance currently ranks 15th in Division II.

• Addy Townsend and Rebecca Bassett both earned provisional qualifying marks in the women’s mile. Townsend placed third at the Portland Indoor Invitational in a time of 4:59.32, 24th best in Division II, while Bassett’s fourth place time of 4:59.99 is 29th in Division II.

• Alana Mussatto improved her provisional qualifying mark in the women’s 800 meters, placing second at the Portland Indoor Invitational with a time of 2:14.10. Her time currently ranks 17th in Division II.

• Vladislav Tsygankov was named the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week for the second straight week after he won the long jump at the Portland Indoor Invitational with a mark of 23-5.5. At Friday’s High Perfromance meet, Tsygankov placed fourth in the 200 meters in 22.35 seconds.

• Ella Brown was named GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week for her won in the women’s triple jump at the Portland Indoor Invitational. Her mark of 37-6.75 is currently second in the GNAC.

• Valda Kabia equaled her season best and No. 5 time on the GNAC all-time list in the women’s 200 meters at the TrackTown High Performance Meet, placing fourth with a time of 25.05 seconds. The day before, she placed first in her preliminary heat of the 60 meters in 7.79 seconds. Kabia is provisionally qualified in both the 100 meters and 200 meters.

• Simon Fraser completed their warm-up for the GNAC Championships by competing at the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday and the UW Open on Sunday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Three NCAA provisional qualifiers topped a solid pair of competitions for Western Oregon in Portland at the House of Track.

• David Ribich earned a NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the men’s mile not once, but twice. Ribich won the mile at Thursday’s Portland Indoor Invitational in 4:12.41 and improved at the Friday’s TrackTown High Performance Meet, placing second in 4:09.77. He enters the week leading the GNAC and 14th in Division II.

• Sam Naffziger followed Ribich in gaining a NCAA provisional qualifier in the men’s mile. He placed second to Ribich on Thursday in 4:12.41 and improved placed third on Friday, improving to 4:11.44. The mark is second in the GNAC and 19th in Division II.

• Cody Warner picked up a NCAA provisional qualifier in the men’s 200 meters, winning the event at the Portland Indoor Invitational with a time of 21.80 seconds. The mark is currently 28th in Division II and leads the GNAC. Warner also placed fourth in the 60 meters in 7.03 seconds.

• Emmi Collier was Western Oregon’s other event winner, capturing the women’s shot put with a mark of 44-9.75. Collier currently owns the second bestmark in the GNAC with her 46-3.5 set at the TrackTown High Performance Meet #2.

• Kaleb Dobson placed second in the men’s 60-meter hurdles at the Portland Indoor Invitational in 8.49 seconds and placed fourth in the event at the High Performance Meet in 8.36 seconds. Josh Dempsey placed third in the men’s 800 meters on Thursday in 1:53.70 while David Cornish was third in the men’s 3,000 meters in 8:27.63.

• Western Oregon will continue action this weekend, participating in the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday and the UW Open on Sunday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• A first place finish by Travis Milbrandt and a second place finish for Megan Mortensen highlighted Western Washington’s performances at the TrackTown High Performance Meet #4.

• Milbrandt was named GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.14 seconds. He went 8.13 seconds in the preliminaries, a season best that ties him for 13th best in Division II.

• Mortensen captured a second place finish in the women’s shot put with a mark of 41-6.5. The performance was just short of her season best of 41-7.75, which is ninth best in the GNAC.

• The women’s 4x400 relay team of Gracia Reynolds, Savannah Smith, Deja Svastislaee and Raigan Paige placed second in a time of 4:01.51. The Vikings finished second to a team of professionals, which included Olympian Allyson Felix, that ran 3:43.49.

• Jasmine McMullin is Western Washington’s top women’s NCAA provisional qualifier. Her mark of 38-8.75 in the women’s triple jump leads the GNAC and is tied for 13th in Division II.

• Issac Derline enters the week ranked 19th in Division II in the men’s 5,000 meters with a time of 14:39.22. He is one of four GNAC runners provisionally qualified in the event.

• Western Washington will complete their GNAC Championships run-up with the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday and the UW Open on Sunday.