Thursday, February 21, 2019

GNAC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARD WINNERS
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE MEET
Rowan Doherty, Simon Fraser
Junior • West Vancouver, B.C.

Doherty won his second consecutive title in the men’s 3,000 meters, finishing just ahead of teammate Pierre-Louis Deourbe to win in a time of 8:31.30. Doherty also ran the anchor leg of the Clan’s winning distance medley relay team, which won in a GNAC Championships record time of 9:58.18.

MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE MEET
Kodiak Landis, Central Washington
Senior • Snohomish, Wash.

Landis won his second heptathlon championship in the last three years, capturing the event with a score of 5,228 points. He went on the place second in the long jump with a mark of 23 feet and took fifth in the pole vault with a clearance of 15 feet, 2.25 inches.

MEN’S PERFORMANCE OF THE MEET
Tyler Cronk, Saint Martin’s
Freshman • Kent, Wash.

Cronk became just the second athlete in conference history to clear seven feet in the high jump in the GNAC Championships, winning with a leap of 7 feet, 0.5 inches. He joins SMU alumnus Mikel Smith in the seven-foot club.

WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE MEET
Caroline Kurgat, Alaska Anchorage
Senior • Eldoret, Kenya

Kurgat cruised to victories in both the mile and the 3,000 meters and anchored the Seawolves’ record-setting distance medley relay team. Kurgat won the mile by 10 seconds in a time of 4:47.86 and then posted a six-second win in the 3,000 meters with her time of 9:54.40. Kurgat’s ran the anchor leg on the DMR as the Seawolves won in a time of 11:23.47.

WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE MEET
HarLee Ortega, Central Washington
Senior • Payette, Idaho

Ortega placed in all four field events she participated in and placed in five overall. She won the triple jump with a mark of 39 feet, 3.75 inches, took second in the pentathlon at 3,664 points, placed third in the high jump at 5 feet, 4.5 inches and sixth in the long jump at 18 feet, 3.25 inches. In addition, Ortega also placed eighth in the 60-meter hurdles.

WOMEN’S PERFORMANCE OF THE MEET
Alaska Anchorage Distance Medley Relay

The team of Ruth Cvancara, Vanessa Aniteye, Danielle McCormick and Caroline Kurgat won by 38 seconds, setting the GNAC and meet record in a time of 11:23.47. An automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA Championships, the time is the sixth-fastest in NCAA Division II history.

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Both Alaska Anchorage teams posted strong showings at the GNAC Indoor Championships. The men placed second with a total of 114.5 points while the women placed third with 83 points.

• Senior Caroline Kurgat was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Meet after earning titles in both the mile and 3,000 meters and anchoring the champion distance medley relay team. On Friday, Kurgat posted a six-second win in the 3,000 meters in 9:54.20 and returned Saturday to win the mile by 10 seconds in 4:47.86.

• The distance medley relay team of junior Ruth Cvancara, junior Vanessa Aniteye, senior Danielle McCormick and Kurgat won by 38 seconds in a GNAC record time of 11:23.47. Just the third DMR in GNAC history to run under 11:30, the time is also the sixth-fastest in Division II history. The top time in Division II this season is an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championships and was recognized as the women’s Performance of the Meet.

• Freshman Nancy Jeptoo claimed the title in the women’s 5,000 meters by 27 seconds, winning in a time of 17:48.46. The UAA men, meanwhile, claimed the top-five places in the men’s 5,000 meters led by Wesley Kirui’s winning time of 14:55.66.

• Sophomore Brandon Nicholson and junior Christopher Brake earned all-conference honors in the men’s triple jump. Nicholson placed second with an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 48-0.5 and Brake placed third at 47-4.25. Brake also took third in the high jump, clearing 6-7.75.

• The Alaska Anchorage women are ranked No. 6 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Indoor Team Index.

• The Seawolves will wrap the indoor regular season this Saturday at the SPU Final Qualifier.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• It was a pair of great performances for Central Washington at the GNAC Indoor Championships with the women placing a close second to Seattle Pacific and the men finishing third.

• Senior HarLee Ortega was named the Women’s Field Athlete of the Meet after she won the triple jump and placed in three other field events. Ortega captured the triple jump with a mark of 39 feet, 3.75 inches, tying her for 22nd in Division II this season. She also placed second in the pentathlon (3,664), third in the high jump (5-4.5) and sixth in the long jump (18-3.25). In addition, Ortega also placed eighth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.59).

• Senior Kodiak Landis made it a sweep of the Field Athlete of the Meet awards, earning the men’s honor after he placed in three field disciplines. Landis won the heptathlon with a score of 5,228 points, improving him into a tie for sixth in Division II this season. It was the second title in the event in three years for Landis. He went on finish second in the long jump (23-0) and fifth in the pole vault (15-2.25).

• Senior Zach Whittaker captured the title in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 48 feet, 8.75 inches, giving CWU its fifth championship in the event in the last six years. The mark ranks Whittaker 15th in Division II this season.

• Junior Erykah Weems earned her first GNAC championship in the women’s 400 meters, winning in a time of 56.24 seconds, finishing almost 0.8 seconds ahead of runner-up and teammate Sidney Trinidad. Weems was also the runner-up in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.74 seconds.

• The men’s 4x400-meter relay team of Daniel Calderon, Trevaughn Scott, Doc Porter and Landis earned the Wildcats’ first championship in the event since 2005, clocking a time of 3:19.67.

• Sophomore Braydon Maier finished runner-up to Landis in the heptathlon after winning the event last year. His score of 5,198 points improves Maier to No. 8 in Division II this season. Maier also finished second in the pole vault, clearing 15 feet, 8.25 inches.

• Central Washington will participate at the SPU Final Qualifier in Seattle on Saturday in the last qualifying opportunity prior to the NCAA Indoor Championships.

CONCORDIA
• After winning the title the year before, the Concordia men placed eighth at the GNAC Indoor Championships while the women placed sixth.

• Two of the Cavaliers’ three championships came in the throws. Senior Josh Koch won his third GNAC title in the shot put in the last four years with a mark of 56 feet, 7.5 inches. He led an effort that saw five CU athletes score in the event. Koch also placed eighth in the weight throw at 51 feet, 3.75 inches.

• Sophomore Kori Sprague earned her first GNAC championship, winning the women’s weight throw with a mark of 54 feet, 6.5 inches. It was the fourth title in as many years in the event for the Cavaliers. Sprague also placed eighth in the shot put at 38 feet.

• Junior Adam Brown won his first GNAC championship in the 400 meters, leaning for the win at 49.03 seconds. The time is the fastest in the GNAC this season.

• Sophomore Chelsea Bone finished third in the women’s pentathlon with a score of 3,607 points that moves her up to No. 13 on the Division II season-best list. Bone won the pentathlon long jump at 17 feet, 9.5 inches.  

• Concordia will close out the indoor regular season at the SPU Final Qualifier on Saturday in Seattle.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings took a ninth-place finish at the GNAC Indoor Championships in the men’s competition and finished 10th in the women’s standings.

• Junior Isaiah Girard accounted for the majority of the Yellowjackets’ points, tying for fourth in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 8 inches. The mark was one-inch below his season and lifetime best of 6 feet, 9 inches. Girard went on to finish sixth in the long jump at 22 feet, 3.75 inches.

• The MSUB men picked seven points in the 60 meters. Junior Mason Schram placed fifth with a time of 7.12 seconds while freshman Kyle Patelis was sixth in 7.15 seconds.

• Junior Taylor Stringari picked up all of the MSUB women’s points, placing sixth in the shot put with a season-best mark of 38 feet, 4 inches.

• The GNAC Championships marked the end of the indoor season for the Yellowjackets. The team will open its outdoor campaign on Mar. 23 at the Yellow Jacket Spring Open in Spearfish, S.D.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene finished in a solid fourth place in the men’s team competition at the GNAC Indoor Championships while the women placed eighth.

• The Nighthawks’ only title came in the women’s competition. Senior Lexi Tubbs earned her second 60-meter hurdles championship in three years with a time of 8.63 seconds. The season-best moves her into a tie for eighth in Division II this season.

• Sophomore Elijah Castro finished second in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, clocking 8.40 seconds, and went on to place third in the long jump with a mark of 22 feet, 11.75 inches.

• The Nighthawks placed two-three in the men’s 400 meters with sophomore Zachary Magee finishing second in 49.14 seconds and junior Logan Blake placing third in 49.24 seconds. In the throws, senior Jake Knight placed second in the men’s shot put at 55 feet, 10.5 inches, while sophomore Canyon Anderson placed third in the weight throw at 54 feet, 8.75 inches.

• In the women’s jumps, senior Katie Conklin placed fourth in the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 4.5 inches while junior Jackie Mahowald was fifth in the triple jump with a season-best and school record of 38 feet, 6.25 inches.

• Barring any qualifiers for the NCAA Indoor Championships, the Nighthawks have closed their indoor season. Northwest Nazarene is scheduled to open its outdoor schedule on Mar. 15 and 16 at the Hornet Invitational in Sacramento, Calif.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Thanks to three individual champions, the Saint Martin’s men placed seventh at the GNAC Indoor Championships while the women placed ninth.

• As expected, freshman Tyler Cronk was the winner of the men’s high jump with a mark of 7 feet, 0.5 inches. He is only the second athlete in championships history to clear seven feet, earning selection as the Men’s Performance of the Meet. Cronk has automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships with his best of 7 feet, 1 inch.

• Senior Jackson Hand claimed the championship in the men’s 200 meters, surging just ahead of Simon Fraser’s Nathan Mah to win in a time of 21.93 seconds.

• Senior Kauanoe Vanderpoel will close his collegiate career as a champion, winning the men’s weight throw by almost a foot with a mark of 56 feet, 8.5 inches. The mark is a season-best and is second-best in the GNAC this season.

• Freshman Keshara Romain led the Saint Martin’s women, placing fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 38 feet, 7.75 inches and fifth in the long jump with a mark of 18 feet, 4.25 inches. Romain has the 20th best mark in Division II in the triple jump this season at 39 feet, 5 inches.

• On the track, junior Ariya Kendrick finished seventh in the women’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.25 inches.

• Saint Martin’s will be among the eight GNAC teams competing at the SPU Final Qualifier on Saturday in Seattle.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• The Seattle Pacific women picked up the 13th conference indoor title in program history, and its third in a row, with 154 points to edge Central Washington by four points. The SPU men placed 10th with 11 points.

• Junior Scout Cai became a three-time champion in the women’s pentathlon, setting a meet record with her score of 3,815 points. The performance is tops in Division II this season and No. 3 on the GNAC All-Time List. In the process, Cai tied the meet record in the pentathlon with her clearance of 5 feet, 6.5 inches. Cai also placed third in the pole vault at 11 feet, 9.25 inches.

• Freshman Peace Igbonagwam made quite the splash in her first conference meet. She set the GNAC record in the women’s long jump with her winning mark of 19 feet, 7.5 inches, breaking the record of 19 feet, 5.5 inches set by the Falcons’ Danielle Ayers-Stamper in 2005. Igbonagwam was also second in the 60 meters (7.70) and third in the 200 meters (25.00).

• Junior Grace Bley led a top-three sweep for SPU in the women’s 200 meters, winning the title in 24.86 seconds. Freshman Jenna Bouyer placed second in 24.91 seconds. In the 60-meter hurdles, sophomore Renick Meyer placed third in 8.80 seconds.

• In the distances, junior Kate Lilly placed second in the mile in 4:57.85 and fourth in the 3,000 meters in 10:11.12. Freshman Kaylee Mitchell was third in the mile (5:05.84) and fifth in the 3,000 (10:15.41).

• Senior Jesse Phan led the SPU men, placing third in the 800 meters in a time of 1:55.90.

• The SPU women enter the week ranked at No. 16 in the USTFCCCA Division II Team Index.

• The Falcons will host the final indoor event of the regular season on Saturday: The SPU Final Qualifier at Dempsey Indoor in Seattle.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser finished fifth in both the men’s and women’s team races at the GNAC Indoor Championships, with the men scoring 66 points and the women scoring 70 points.

• Addy Townsend won her third title in four years in the women’s 800 meters, edging out Western Oregon’s Olvia Woods by one-hundreth of a second to win in 2:10.12. In all, SFU scored 24 points in the event.

• Townsend joined seniors Bryce West and Sophie Dodd and sophomore Renate Bluschke to win the women’s 4x400-meter relay in a time of 3:49.99. The mark was just short of their season-best of 3:48.38, which is 18th in Division II.

• Junior Rowan Doherty won his second-straight title in the men’s 3,000 meters with a time of 8:31.30. Sophomore Pierre-Louis Detourbe was a close second, finishing in 8:33.43. For his efforts in the 3,000 and DMR, Doherty was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Meet.

• The men’s DMR of Detourbe, freshman Nate St. Romain, sophomore Aaron Ahl and Doherty won with a meet record time of 9:58.18. The mark bettered the previous record of 10:04.58 set by SFU in 2012.

• Sophomore Olivia Willett placed third in the women’s 5,000 meters in a time of 18:21.58. Nathan Mah finished second in both the men’s 60 meters (7.05) and the 200 meters (22.04).

• The Simon Fraser women are ranked No. 12 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Team Index.

• The Clan will be among the eight GNAC teams competing at the SPU Final Qualifier on Saturday in Seattle.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon’s finished sixth at the GNAC Indoor Championships with 55 points while the women placed seventh with 29 points.

• Junior Justin Crosswhite gave WOU its third straight championship in the men’s mile. Crosswhite ran a gutsy final 400 meters to win in a time of 4:13.86. He led three WOU runners to finish in the top-eight of the race.

• Senior Cody Warner gave Western Oregon its first champion in the men’s 60 meters in 11 years, edging out Simon Fraser’s Nathan Mah for the title in a time of 7.01 seconds.

• Senior Olivia Woods was edged out by Simon Fraser’s Addy Townsend for the title in the women’s 800 meters in one of the most exciting races of the meet. Woods placed second in 2:10.13.

• Sophomore Curt Knott was the runner-up in the men’s 800 meters, clocking in with a time of 1:55.06. Freshman Gabe Arce-Torres opened his collegiate career by placing sixth in the men’s 400 in a time of 50.19 seconds. In the women’s 400 meters, junior Grayson Burke placed seventh in a time of 58.28 seconds.

• Western Oregon hopes to solidify qualifying marks for the NCAA Indoor Championships this weekend, participating in the SPU Final Qualifier on Saturday in Seattle.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• For the first time in five years, Western Washington won the GNAC men’s indoor championship. Four individual champs allowed the Vikings to win with a score of 138.5 points. The WWU women placed fourth with 79 points.

• Senior J.T. Konrad won WWU’s first men’s pole vault title since 2011, clearing 15 feet, 8.25 inches for the win. Both Konrad and Central Washington’s Braydon Maier cleared 15-8.25, but Konrad had fewer misses at the height to break the tie.

• Freshman Seren Dances won his first GNAC championship in the men’s long jump. His leap of 23 feet, 0.5 inches was a half-inch better than CWU’s Kodiak Landis. Dances also placed sixth in triple at 48-2 and was one of five WWU athletes to score in the event.

• Junior Cordell Cummings captured the title in the men’s 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.33 seconds while senior Kyler Sager won the men’s 800 meters in a time of 1:53.29.

• Senior Anna Paradee reclaimed the indoor title in the women’s pole vault, clearing her first attempt at 12 feet, 7.25 inches to outlast Central Washington’s Halle Irvine for the title. The mark moves Paradee into a tie for 13th in Division II this season.

• Freshman Maddie Taylor led a one-two finish for the Vikings in the women’s high jump, winning her first GNAC title with a clearance of 5 feet, 6.5 inches. Sophomore Heather Farretta placed second with a mark of 5 feet, 4 inches.

• Junior Sophia Galvez finished second in the women’s 5,000 meters, clocking a time of 18:15.80.

• Western Washington will be among the eight GNAC teams to compete on Saturday at the SPU Final Qualifier in Seattle.