Monday, January 29, 2024
by Evan O'Kelly, Assistant Commissioner For Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – Delivering the season’s fastest 200-meters time in Division II indoor track and field on Friday, Simon Fraser standout Marie-Eloise Leclair topped the latest list of Great Northwest Athletic Conference Players of the Week announced on Monday.

Leclair zoomed to a time of 23.87 seconds at Boston University’s John Thomas Terrier Classic, finishing fourth among a field of 158 competitors in the event. She was just 0.25 seconds off her GNAC-record time of 23.62 seconds in the event, which she set last season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Player of the Week – Stephanie Peterson, Western Washington

First-career player of the week.

Propelling the Vikings into a tie for first place in the GNAC standings with an upset of No. 9 Montana State Billings, Peterson delivered a well-balanced performance in her two games last week. The senior from Broomfield, Colo., led all GNAC players last week with 11 steals (5.5 per game) while ranking third among the league’s players in rebounding (9.5 rpg), assists (5.5 apg), and blocks (2.0 bpg). Peterson maintained an assist-turnover ratio of 3.7 (11 assists, 3 turnovers), and turned in her first double-double of the year with 15 points and a season-high 10 rebounds in WWU’s 73-61 win over Seattle Pacific. Peterson also had five assists, five steals, three blocks and no turnovers in her 35 minutes against the Falcons. She followed that by just missing another double-double against the Yellowjackets, putting up 10 points, nine rebounds, six assists, six steals and another block.

Also Nominated: Tori Hollingshead, UAA; Kayla Johnson, UAF; Asher Cai, CWU; Kortney Nelson, MSUB; Hilary James, NNU; Lauryn Morris, SMU; Sophia Wisotzki, SFU; Cali McClave, WOU.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Player of the Week – Samaad Hector, Central Washington

First-career player of the week.

Hector led the Wildcats to a pair of victories with a pair of double-doubles in last week’s action. The senior from Brooklyn, N.Y., had a season-high 23 points to go along with 13 rebounds in CWU’s 97-75 triumph over Western Washington, before adding 17 points and a season-high 14 rebounds in the Wildcats’ 92-68 victory over Simon Fraser. Hector led all GNAC players in rebounding (13.5 rpg) and blocks (2.5 bpg) on the week, while putting up 20.0 points per game. Hector, who leads the GNAC with 1.5 blocks per game, matched his season high with four denials in the victory over Simon Fraser.

Also Nominated: Tyson Gilbert, UAA; Trey Anderson, UAF; Jalen Tot, MSUB; Ryzin Bergersen, NNU; Kyle Greeley, SMU; David Penney, SFU; Kris Cook, WOU; Kai Johnson, WWU.

WOMEN’S TRACK

Athlete of the Week – Marie-Eloise Leclair, Simon Fraser

Eighth-career athlete of the week, second this season.

In addition to slotting her name at the top of the Division II performance list in the 200-meters, Leclair also clocked a time of 7.54 seconds in the 60-meter dash last week. She sits third nationally in that category with her season-best time of 7.38 seconds coming at the UW Indoor Preview on Jan. 13. Leclair moved into a tie for fourth-most GNAC Athlete of the Week awards, as her eighth matched SPU’s Ali Worthen, UAA’s Caroline Kurgat and SFU’s Addy Townsend. SPU’s Jessica Pixler collected a GNAC-record 17 Athlete of the Week honors during her storied career.

Also Nominated: Liv Heite, UAA; E’lexis Hollis, CWU; Mya Richardson, MSUB; Morgan Erler, NNU; Cassidy Walchak-Sloan, SMU; Kaydence Nguyen, WOU; Sophie Wright, WWU.

MEN’S TRACK

Athlete of the Week – Kevin McDermott, Western Washington

Third-career athlete of the week, second this season.

McDermott had a performance to remember at the UW Invitational, clocking a pair of GNAC all-time top-10 marks. The senior ran the fourth-fastest mile time in GNAC history at 4:02.13 and the third-fastest 5,000-meters time at 13:50.77. Both marks were provisional national qualifiers, with his 5,000-meters time being the fourth-fastest in Division II this year and his mile time ranking 10th-fastest. McDermott also has a provisional qualifying mark in the 3,000-meters of 8:10.96, which he achieved on Jan. 13 at the UW Preview.

Also Nominated: Johan Correa, CWU; JayCee Herbert, MSUB; Quincy Ellis, NNU; Kainalu Pagente, SMU; Andrew Thomson, SFU; Keeton Sanchez, WOU.

WOMEN’S FIELD

Athlete of the Week – Katie Potts, Western Washington

Second-career athlete of the week, first this season.

Potts unleashed the top weight throw mark of any GNAC athlete this season, with a distance of 50’ 11” (15.52 meters) at the UW Invitational. Potts was the top Division II performer among an overall field of 31 competitors last week. She already holds a provisional qualifying mark in the shot put, hitting 45’ 4.25” on Jan. 13.

Also Nominated: Vivien Lessfeld, UAA; Grace Jones, MSUB; Vai Green, NNU; Jocelyn Saribay, SMU; Kerlinda Chatwin, SFU.

MEN’S FIELD

Athlete of the Week – Ryan Greenwalt, Western Washington

First-career athlete of the week.

Greenwalt put forth the conference’s top long jump of the 2023-24 indoor season, clearing 22’ 10.5” (6.97 meters) at the UW Invitational. He was the top Division II performer among a field of 28 competitors in the event as he moved his name to the top of the GNAC performance list.

Also Nominated: Isaac Perkins, MSUB; Derek Knight, NNU; Mitchell Gibbs, SFU; Mark Warren, WOU.