Thursday, May 1, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. - With two championship events already in the books, GNAC athletes have one final weekend to qualify for the 12th annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships which are set for May 9-10 at Western Oregon University.

Live results will be available for the championship meet.

Alaska Anchorage took the early team lead in the championships Tuesday at Ellensburg as Cody Thomas won the decathlon (6,617 points) for the second year in a row and Karolin Anders won the heptathlon (4,997 points).

GNAC athletes will compete in eight different meets this weekend.

On Friday, Western Oregon and Simon Fraser will send athletes to Corvallis for the Oregon State High Performance Invitational.  The Wolves will also compete Friday and Saturday in the Pacific Twilight.

Simon Fraser will also have athletes at Lacey for the Saint Martin's Invitational and in Vancouver, B.C. for the UBC Last Chance Saturday and  in the Bay Area for the Stanford Payton Jordan Invitational Sunday.

Also joining the host Saints for the Saint Martin's Invitational Saturday is Seattle Pacific. Meanwhile, Alaska Anchorage heads to Irvine, Calif., for the UC Irvine Scott Invitational and Northwest Nazarene takes a short trip to Boise for the Idaho/Utah Border Class.  Montana State Billings travels to Missoula to compete in the University of Montana Open.

Chelimo, Drake Hold On to National Leads

Micah Chelimo of Alaska Anchorage has the best time this spring in Division II in both the 5,000 (13:41.99) and 10,000 (28:37.75).  He also ranks 14th in the 1500 (3:49.74).  His 5K and 10K times are GNAC record.  

Bethany Drake of Western Washington is the leader in the javelin with a GNAC-record throw of 169-6.  

Five other GNAC records have been set this year – by Bernari Sternen of Central Washington in the men’s 110 hurdles (14.47), by Frank Catelli of Western Washington in the shot put (58-7 ½), by UAA’s Jamie Ashcroft in the women’s 100 (11.74) and by Alaska Anchorage’s men’s 4x400 (3:12.22) and women’s 4x100 relay teams (46.56).

The Computer Says

According to the USTFCCCA computer, Alaska Anchorage is the seventh best men’s team and the 15th best women’s team in Division II, at least as far as national meet point potential goes.  Western Washington’s women are ranked 19th.  From a regional point perspective, UAA’s men are ranked third. The Seawolf women are ranked second.  Chico State is the regional leader in both divisions.

Four Post National Qualifying Times

Four new or improved provisional national qualifying marks were established last week by GNAC athletes at the Vernacchia Invitational in Bellingham. 

Matt Lutz of Western Washington reached the standard in the men’s steeplechase (9:24.95).  Also posting PNQs were WWU’s John Haskin in the men’s javelin (193-11), Central Washington’s Dani Eggleston in the women’s steeplechase (10:58.26) and WWU’s Lindsay Wells in the hammer (182-4).

Wells (2nd) and Eggleston’s (10th) marks rank in the GNAC All Time Top 10.  Simon Fraser’s Natasha Kianipour also had a Top 10 mark at Bellingham in the 100 (10th, 12.26).

Marie Smith of Northwest Nazarene ran the GNAC’s eighth all-time mark in the 100 hurdles (14.38) in the WSU Cougar Invitational.

BY THE NUMBERS

GNAC ALL-TIME TOP 10 OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES (for April 21-26):  Men: None. Women:  100 – 10. Natasha Kianipour, SFU, 12.26.  Steeplechase -  10. Dani Eggleston, CWU, 10:58.26.  100 Hurdles – 8. +Marie Smith, NNU, 14.38. Hammer – 2. Lindsay Wells, WWU, 55.58 – 182-4.  (Note: All performances were at  WWU Vernacchia Invitational except: +WSU Cougar Invitational).

LAST WEEK’S NCAA OUTDOOR QUALIFIERS (for April 21-26): Men: Men: Steeplechase – Matt Lutz, WWU, 9:24.95. Javelin – John Haskin, WWU, 59.10 – 193-11. Women: Steeplechase -  Dani Eggleston, CWU, 10:58.26. Hammer – Lindsay Wells, WWU, 55.58 – 182-4. (Note: All performances were at  WWU Vernacchia Invitational).

CURRENT TOP 10 NATIONAL LEADERS (though April 28): Men:  5000 – 1. Micah Chelimo, UAA, 13:41.99. 10,000 – 1. Micah Chelimo, UAA, 28:37.75.  Shot Put – 5. Frank Catelli, WWU, 17.87 – 58-7 ½.  Discus – 8. Frank Catelli, WWU, 53.00 – 173-11.  Javelin – 2. Franz Burghagen, UAA, 69.87 – 229-3; 8. Shane Brooks, WOU, 64.49 – 211-7.  Decathlon – 7. Cody Thomas, UAA, 6940.WOMEN:  800 – 3. McKayla Fricker, SPU, 2:06.85; 6. Sarah Sawatzky, SFU, 2:10.45; 7. Lynelle Decker, SPU, 2:10.58; 9. Ivy O’Guinn, UAA, 2:10.82.  1500 – 2. Ivy O’Guinn, UAA, 4:25.39. 5000 – 10. Joyce Kipchumba, UAA, 16:44.97. 10,000 – 5. Joyce Kipchumba, UAA, 34:54.04.  Steeplechase – 7. Katelyn Steen, WWU, 10:44.03.  High Jump – 5. Tayler Fettig, CWU, 1.75 – 5-8 ¾.  Hammer – 10. Lindsay Wells, WWU, 55.58 – 182-4.  Javelin – 1. Bethany Drake, WWU, 51.66 – 169-6; 4. Kate Reichert, WWU, 49..59 – 162-8; 8. Seabre Church, WOU, 47.48 – 155-9. Heptathlon – 7. Karolin Anders, UAA, 5048.

GNAC RED LION ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

MEN: Track – Rimar Christie, Northwest Nazarene (Jr., St. Michael, Barbados) and Tyrell Williams, Western Oregon (Jr., Salem, OR) ... Christie won three events at the WSU Cougar Invitational, finishing first in the 100 (10.87) and 200 (21.50) and also leading NNU to a win in the 4x100 relay (42.15). His 200 time is the second fastest in the GNAC this season.  Williams won his heat of the 100 meters and placed fourth overall in the UC San Diego Triton Invitational in a time of 10.78. On the season, Williams is the GNAC leader in the 200 (21.48) and has the third best time in the 100. Field -  John Haskin, Western Washington (So., Bainbridge Island, WA) posted a provisional national qualifying mark in the javelin with a throw of 193-11 at the WWU Vernacchia Invitational.

HONORABLE MENTION: Matt Lutz, Western Washington (So., Bremerton, WA - Olympic) earned a provisional national qualifying time in winning the steeplechase (9:24.95) at the Vernacchia Invitational.

WOMEN:  Track – Marie Smith, Northwest Nazarene (Sr., Boise, ID - Capital) won the 100 hurdles at the Washington State Cougar Invitational in a time of 14.38, breaking the Crusader school record for the third time this spring.  The time is also a provisional national qualifying time and ranks eighth in GNAC history.  Field – Lindsay Wells, Western Washington (Sr., Seattle, WA) equaled the second best hammer throw in GNAC history in winning the event at WWU with a mark  of 182-4.

HONORABLE MENTION: Dani Eggleston, Central Washington (So., Longview, WA) recorded a provisional national qualifying time of 10:58.26 in winning the steeplechase at the Vernacchia.  Her time is the 10^th best in GNAC history ... Natasha Kianipour, Simon Fraser (Fr., Burnaby, BC – Burnaby Mountain) ran the 10th fastest 100 time in GNAC history running a 12.26 in the UBC Achilles Invitational.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:

Lane CC Titan Twilight (April 24 at Eugene): Men (Top 3):  Javelin – 1. Neil Gravatt, WOU,  54.09 – 177-5. Women (Top 3): 400 Hurdles – 1. Laura Knudson, WOU, 1:09.07; 2. Felica Covey, WOU, 1:11.17.   Hammer – 3. Alyssa Taylor, WOU, 40.63 – 133-4.

WWU Vernacchia Invitational (April 26 at Bellingham): Men: 400 – Ryan McArthur, WWU, 49.77.  800 – Cody McCranie, WWU, 1:56.74.  3000 – Joe Berger, SMU, 8:57.68. 400 Hurdles – Peter Maguire, WWU, 55.79. Steeplechase – Matt Lutz, WWU, 9:24.95.  4x400 Relay – Western Washingtotn 3:20.34.  Triple Jump – Luke Plummer, CWU, 14.23 – 46-8 ¼.  Shot Put – Frank Catelli, WWU, 49.67 – 162-11.  Hammer – Kevin Stanley, CWU, 54.74 – 179-7.  Women: 100 – Kyra Brannan, SPU, 12.37.  200 – Kishia Mitchell, SPU, 25.06.  400 – Sydney Coffey, WWU, 56.80.  800 – Connie Morgan, CWU, 2:14.19.  3000 – Katelyn Steen, WWU, 10:03.43.  100 Hurdles – Tanya Bjornsson, WWU, 14.62.  400 Hurdles – Megan Teigan, SMU, 1:05.58.  Steeplechase – Dani Eggleston, CWU, 10:58.26.  4x100 Relay – Seattle Pacific 47.20.  4x400 Relay – Central Washington 4:08.33.  High Jump – Katelyn Wright, WWU, 1.60 – 5-3.  Pole Vault – Cheyanna Pinley, WWU, 3.40 – 11-1 ¾.  Long Jump – Tanya Bjornsson, WWU, 5.72 – 18-9 ¼.  Hammer – Lindsay Wells, WWU, 55.58 – 182-4.  Javelin – Bethany Drake, WWU, 49.13 – 161-2.

Washington State Open (April 26 at Pullman): Men (Top 3): 100 – 1. Rimar Christie, NNU, 10.87. 200 – 1. Rimar Christie, NNU, 21.50.  110 Hurdles – 2. Kyle McLaughlin, NNU, 15.21.  400 Hurdles – 3. Kyle McLaughlin, NNU, 56.89.  Steeplechase – 1. Michael Gordon, NNU, 9:55.37.  4x100 Relay – Northwest Nazarene (David Harris, Cody Henderson, Andrew Curtis, Rimar Christie) 42.15.  Discus – 1. Kevin Rima, NNU, 47.18 – 154-9.  Women (Top 3): 800 – 1. Natalie Evans, NNU, 2:11.52.  3000 – 1. Jordan Rehfeld, NNU, 10:04.64.  100 Hurdles – 1. Marie Smith, NNU, 14.38.  Steeplechase – 2. Hailey Bradshaw, NNU, 11:53.41.  4x100 Relay – 1. Northwest Nazarene (Brittany Sever, Marie Smith, Alison Silva, Aimee Rodes) 50.69.  4x400 Relay – 2. Northwest Nazarene 3:54.58 

Mt. Hood Festival (April 26 at Gresham): Men (Top 3): 800 – 3. Sam Naffziger, WOU, 1:56.15.  400 Hurdles – 2. John Schifferer, WOU, 56.05.  Women (Top 3): 400 – 3. Seanna Pitassi, CWU, 59.86. Hammer – 3. Allison Cook, WOU, 41.47 – 136-1.

UCSD Triton Invitational Invitational (April 26 at San Diego): Men (Top 6): 100 – 4. Tyrell Williams, WOU, 11.08. 800 – 6. Josh Hanna, WOU, 1:52.68.   110 Hurdles – 6. Kody Rhodes, WOU, 14.89.   4x100 Relay – 3. Western Oregon 42.31.  Women (Top 6): 400 Hurdles – 5. Audrey Hellesto, WOU, 1:04.91.  4x100 – 5. Western Oregon 48.17.   Javelin – 5. Seabre Church, WOU, 44.95 – 147-6.

UBC Achilles Cup (April 26 at Vancouver): Men (SFU Winners): 200 – Joel Webster, SFU, 21.91.  400 – Daniel Kelloway, SFU, 49.80.   4x100 Relay – Simon Fraser 43.15.  4x400 Relay – Simon Fraser 3:19.15.   Women (SFU Winners): Long Jump – Mercedes Rhode, SFU, 5.46 -  17-11. Shot Put – Selina Byer, SFU, 10.97 – 36-0.

GNAC Multi-Events (April 28-29 at Ellensburg): Men’s Team Scores  - Alaska Anchorage 10, Northwest Nazarene 9, Saint Martin's 6, Western Oregon 5, Central Washington 5, Western Washington 4. Decathlon - 1. Cody Thomas, UAA, 6617; 2. Greyson Kilgore, NNU, 6506; 3. David Durden, SMU, 6036; 4. Eric Gaines, WOU, 6000; 5. Michael Stralser, WWU, 5999; 6. Brandon Roddewig, CWU, 5984; 7. Justin Peterson, CWU, 5973; 8. Micah Spatz. NNU, 5870; 9. Michael Holland, SMU, 5568; 10. Cameron Stanek, MSUB, 5282; 11. Luke Conklin, NNU, 4870. Women’s Team Scores - Alaska Anchorage 14, Seattle Pacific 9, Central Washington 8, Saint Martin's 5, Northwest Nazarene 3. Heptathlon - 1. Karolin Anders, UAA, 4997; 2. Tayler Fettig, CWU, 4604; 3. Maddie Hommes, SPU, 4391; 4. Irene Moore, SMU, 4347; 5. Rosie Smith, UAA, 4344; 6. Janessa Dyk. NNU, 4044; 7. Ali Sowers, SPU, 3829; 8. Cheryl Hong, SPU, 3738; 9. Emily Moe, WOU, 3611; 10. Emily Stralser, WWU, 3425. (Note: Multi-Events is first event of GNAC Championships).