Wednesday, March 26, 2014
PORTLAND, Ore. - Four Great Northwest Athletic Conference athletes rank No. 1 in their events in this week’s NCAA Division II National performance lists.
On the women’s side, Katie Reichert of Western Washington is the national leader in the javelin (162-1) and McKayla Fricker is the pacesetter in the 800 (2:08.00).
On the men’s side Isaac Kangogo of Alaska Anchorage has the best mark in the 1500 meters (3:49.60) and Frank Catelli is the national leader in the shot put (57-2 ¼).
Five more GNAC athletes rank second – Brady Beagley of Western Oregon in the men’s 800 (3:50.72), Catelli in the discus (57-2 ¼), UAA’s Franz Burghagen in the javelin (216-1), Anchorage’s Rosie Smith in the women's 100 hurdles (14.40) and WWU’s Bethany Drake in the javelin (157-10).
Historically, GNAC athletes have dominated the women’s javelin at the NCAA national meet, earning 28 All-American awards and three national titles.
So far this spring, that appears to once again be the case as the top three rated athletes and four of the top seven are from the conference. Joining Reichert and Drake in the top three is Seabre Church of Western Oregon (155-9). Kathryn Walker of Saint Martin’s ranks seventh (136-7).
On the men’s side four of the Top 7 are also GNAC athletes including Burghagen at No. 2, Shane Brooks of Western Oregon at No. 3 (211-7), UAA’s Cody Parker at No. 5 (209-5) and WOU’s Justin Larson at No. 7 (206-5).
GNAC athletes had 13 marks last week that bettered the NCAA provisional standard in meets at Eugene, Portland and Hermiston.
Qualifiers on the men’s side in addition to Catelli in the shot and discus and Beagley in the 1500 included Rimar Christie of Northwest Nazarene in the 100 (10.60), Logan Myers and Peter Maguire of Western Washington in the 110 hurdles (14.69) and 400 hurdles (53.98), respectively, and Brian Chalkey of Saint Martin’s in the javelin (188-11).
Joining Fricker in the 800 and Reichert, Drake and Walker in the javelin as qualifiers were Lindsay Wells of Western Washington in the hammer (165-4) and AnnaMarie Forza of Northwest Nazarene in the javelin (131-11).
GNAC Record For Steen
Though its an event that seldom is run at that distance, Katelyn Steen of Western Washington smashed the GNAC and Western Washington school record in finishing third in the 2000-meter steeplechase at last week's Oregon Preview.
Steen was clocked in a time of 6:56.78, 18 seconds better than the previous GNAC record of 7:14.96 by Suzie Strickler of Seattle Pacific in 2008. The previous best by a WWU athlete (in the GNAC era) was 7:22.87 by Haley O’Connor last season.
Steen’s performance was one of seven last week that rank in the GNAC All-Time Top 10 along with Catelli’s marks in the shot put and discus, Fricker’s time in the 800, Reichert and Drake’s marks in the javelin and a time of 47.33 by Seattle Pacific in the women’s 4x100 relay, which ranks sixth all-time.
This Week in the GNAC
GNAC athletes will compete in five meets this week beginning with the Mt. Hood Multi-Events Thursday and Friday in Gresham, Ore. Saint Martin's and Western Oregon are scheduled to send athletes.
On Friday and Saturday, Montana State Billings will compete in the University of Montana Al Manuel Invitational.
Two other meets will be contested Saturday as Central Washington, Seattle Pacific and Western Oregon are in the Club Northwest Spring Break Open at West Seattle and Alaska Anchorage, Central Washington and Western Oregon will have athletes competing at the Willamette Invitational.
The weekend concludes on Sunday as Simon Fraser will open its spring season competing in the UBC Open.
LAST WEEK'S GNAC RED LION ATHLETES OF THE WEEK:
MEN: Track – Brady Beagley, Western Oregon (Sr., Grants Pass, OR – North Valley) finished ninth in the 1500 meters at the Oregon Preview in a provisional national qualifying time of 3:50.72. That time ranks fourth in WOU history and is the second best so far this spring in the GNAC and in NCAA Division II. Field – Frank Catelli, Western Washington (So., Sequim, WA) had a pair of provisional national qualifying and GNAC All-Time Top 10 performances at Eugene. He won the shot with a put of 57-2 ¼ and finished fourth in the discus with a throw of 165-4. His shot mark ranks second in GNAC history and his discus throw ranks eighth. His shot put mark leads Division II and is discus ranks second nationally.
HONORABLE MENTION: Rimar Christie, Northwest Nazarene (Jr., St. Michael, Barbados) won the 100 meters at the Eastern Oregon Team Challenge in a PNQ of 10.60. He also anchored NNU’s 4x100 relay team that finished first in a time of 42.20 …. Logan Myers, Western Washington (Jr., Olympia, WA - Capital) finished third at Eugene in the 110 meter hurdles in a GNAC season-best and provisional national qualifying time of 14.69 … Zach McClanahan, Northwest Nazarene (Fr., Yuma. AZ - Cibola) won the pole vault at the EOU Team Challenge at Hermiston with a GNAC-leading vault of 13-11 ¼. NNU’s Grayson Kilgore also cleared the same height but had more misses … Brian Chalkey, Saint Martin’s (Fr., Eugene, OR - Sheldon) finished second in the javelin at Lewis & Clark with a provisional national qualifying and school-record throw of 188-11. That bettered the old school record by four feet ... Kyle Lane, Western Oregon (Jr., Portland, OR - Reynolds) had a GNAC provisional qualifying mark of 43-10 in finishing second in the triple jump at Lewis & Clark.
WOMEN: Track – McKayla Fricker, Seattle Pacific (Sr., Canby, OR) finished second in the 800 and led the Falcons to a win in the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:54.16 at the Oregon Preview. Her 800 time of 2:08.00 which ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division II so far this spring automatically qualifies her for the NCAA national meet in May. It is also the sixth quickest in GNAC history. She was the first collegiate finisher, beating among others, four University of Oregon runners who wound up third through sixth. In the relay she came from behind in the final 200 meters as the Falcons edged Oregon by .47 seconds. Field – Katie Reichert, Western Washington (So., Longview, WA - Kelso) automatically qualified for the NCAA meet in the javelin winning the event at Eugene with the third best throw in GNAC history (162-1). Reichert’s throw currently leads Division II.
HONORABLE MENTION: Marie Smith, Northwest Nazarene (Sr., Boise, ID - Capital) finished second in the 100-meter hurdles at the EOU Team Challenge in a school-record time of 14.60. She also anchored NNU’s 4x100 relay team which finished third in a time of 49.58 … Kathryn Walker, Saint Martin’s (Fr., Lacey, WA – Northwest Christian) had a PNQ of 136-7 in the javelin in finishing second at Lewis & Clark … AnnaMarie Forza, Northwest Nazarene (So., Enumclaw, WA) finished second in the javelin at the Eastern Oregon Team Challenge with a PNQ of 131-11 …. Emmi Collier, Western Oregon (So., Warrenton, OR) finished second in the shot put at the Oregon Preview (42-10 ¾) and sixth in the hammer (142-1) in the Lewis & Clark Spring Break Open ... Audrey Hellesto, Western Oregon (Jr., Philomath, OR) finished fourth at Eugene, winning her heat of the 400 hurdles, in a time of 1:05.34.
BY THE NUMBERS
GNAC ALL-TIME TOP 10 OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES (for March 17-23): Men: Shot Put – 2. Frank Catelli, WWU, 17.43 – 57-2 ¼. Discus – 8. Frank Catelli, WWU, 50.40 – 165-4. WOMEN: 800 – 6. McKayla Fricker, SPU, 2:08.00. 2000 Steeplechase – 1. Katelyn Steen, WWU, 6:56.78. 4x100 Relay – 6. Seattle Pacific 47.33. Javelin – 3. Katie Reichert, WWU, 49.40 – 162-1; 7. Bethany Drake, WWU, 48.11 – 157-10. (Note: All performances at Oregon Preview).
LAST WEEK’S NCAA OUTDOOR QUALIFIERS (for March 17-23): Men: 100 – *Rimar Christie, NNU, 10.60. 1500 – Brady Beagley, WOU, 3:50.72. 110 Hurdles – Logan Myers, WWU, 14.69. 400 Hurdles – Peter Maguire, WWU, 53.98. Shot Put – Frank Catelli, WWU, 17.43 – 57-2 ¼. Discus – Frank Catelli, WWU, 50.40 – 165-4. Javelin – Brian Chalkey, SMU, 57.59 – 188-11. WOMEN: 800 – 6. +McKayla Fricker, SPU, 2:08.00. Hammer – Lindsay Wells, WWU, 50.39 – 165-4. Javelin – +Katie Reichert, WWU, 49.40 – 162-1; + Bethany Drake, WWU, 48.11 – 157-10; **Kathryn Walker, SMU, 41.64 – 136-7; *AnnaMarie Forza, NNU, 40.20 – 131-11. (Note: All performances at Oregon Preview except: *EOU Team Challenge. **Lewis & Clark Spring Break +Automatic Qualifying).
CURRENT TOP 10 NATIONAL LEADERS (though Mar. 23): Men: 100 – 7. Rimar Christie, NNU, 10.60. 1500 – 1. Isaac Kangogo, UAA, 3:49.60; 2. Brady Beagley, WOU, 3:50.72. 5000 – 3. Dylan Anthony, UAA, 14:35.73. 400 Hurdles – 5. Bobo Camara, UAA, 53.14; 8. Elliott Bauer, UAA, 53.61. 4x400 Relay – 5. Alaska Anchorage 3:13.70. Shot Put – 1. Frank Catelli, WWU, 17.43 – 57-2 ¼. Discus – 2. Frank Catelli, WWU, 50.40 – 165-4. Javelin – 2. Franz Burghagen, UAA, 66.10 – 216-10; 3. Shane Brooks, WOU, 64.49 – 211-7; 5. Cody Parker, UAA, 63.83 – 209-5; 7. Justin Larson, WOU, 62.91 – 206-5. WOMEN: 100 – 5. Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 11.84. 200 – 3. Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 24.27. 800 – 1. McKayla Fricker, SPU, 2:08.00. 100 Hurdles – 2. Rosie Smith, UAA, 14.40. 4x100 Relay – 8. Alaska Anchorage 47.11. Hammer – 4. Lindsay Wells, WWU, 50.39 – 165-4. Javelin – 1. Katie Reichert, WWU, 49.40 – 162-1; 2. Bethany Drake, WWU, 48.11 – 157-10; 3. Seabre Church, WOU, 47.48 – 155-9; 7. Kathryn Walker, SMU, 41.64 – 136-7.
LAST WEEK'S MEET SUMMARIES:
EOU Team Challenge (March 22 at Hermiston, OR): Men – College of Idaho 294 ½, Northwest Nazarene 286, Eastern Oregon 215 ½, Central Washington 186, Oregon Tech 144 ½. Treasure Valley 109 ½. GNAC Winners: 100 – Rimar Christie, NNU, 10.60. 200 – Harish Prasad, CWU, 22.06. 400 – David Harris, NNU, 50.05. 110 Hurdles – Kyle McLaughlin, NNU, 15.41. 400 Hurdles – Kyle McLaughlin, NNU, 57.24. 4x100 – Northwest Nazarene 42.20. High Jump – Cole Hoberg, NNU, 1.98 – 6-6. Pole Vault – Zach McClanahan, NNU, and Greyson Kilgore, NNU, 4.25 – 13-11 ¼. Shot Put – Kevin Stanley, CWU, 14.82 – 48-7 ½. Discus – Kevin Rima, NNU, 48.75 – 159-11. Javelin – Nathan Talbot, NNU, 54.25 – 178-0. Women – College of Idaho 332 ½, Northwest Nazarene 289, Eastern Oregon 253, Central Washington 181 ½, Oregon Tech 94, Treasure Valley 50. GNAC Winners: High Jump – Courtney Schroeder, NNU, 1.60 – 5-3. Shot Put – Becki Duhamel, CWU, 13.30 – 43-7 ¾. Discus – Becki Duhamel, CWU, 41.18 – 135-1. Hammer – Caitlin Curtis, NNU, 48.01 – 157-6.
Oregon Preview (March 22 at Eugene, OR): Men (Top 3): 100 – 3. Kent McKinney, CWU, 10.92. 110 Hurdles – 3. Logan Myers, WWU, 14.69. 400 Hurdles – 3. Peter Maguire, WWU, 53.98. 4x400 Relay – 3. Western Washington 3:18.78. Long Jump – 1. Nathaniel Van Tuinen, WWU, 6.94 – 22-9 ¼; 3. Kevin Yates, WWU, 6.82 – 22-4 ½. Shot Put – 1. Frank Catelli, WWU, 17.43 – 57-2 ¼. Women (Top 3): 800 – 2. McKayla Fricker, SPU, 2:08.00. 2000 Steeplechase – 3. Katelyn Steen, WWU, 6:56.78. 4x400 – 1. Seattle Pacific (Kishia Mitchell, Tasia Baldwin, BryAnne Wochnick, McKayla Fricker) 3:54.16. High Jump – 3. Tayler Fettig, CWU, 1.67 – 5-5 ¾. Pole Vault – Cheyanna Pinley, WWU, 3.55 – 11-7 ¾. Javelin – 1. Katie Reichert, WWU, 49.40 – 162-1; 2. Bethany Drake, WWU, 48.11 – 157-10; 3. Seabre Church, WOU, 45.48 – 149-2. Shot Put – 2. Emmi Collier, WOU, 13.07 – 42-10 ¾.
Lewis & Clark Spring Break Open (March 21-22 at Portland, OR): Men – Concordia 172, Linfield 81, Western Oregon 79, Pacific 68, Lewis & Clark 67 ½ (7. Saint Martin’s 34, 9. Seattle Pacific 21). GNAC Winners: 800 – Josh Hanna 1:54.75. 5000 – Joe Berger, SMU, 15:21.74. 110 Hurdles – Dustin Camarillo, WOU, 15.70. Steeplechase – Zach Holloway, WOU, 9:35.28. Women – Linfield 137, Saint Martin’s 102, Concordia 98, Pacific 66, Lewis & Clark 61 (6. Western Oregon 51, 7. Seattle Pacific 42, 15. Central Washington 8). GNAC Winners: 100 – Renee Hudson, SMU, 12.69. 400 – Kolby Childers, WOU, 59.63. 800 – Bailey Beeson, WOU, 2:15.77. 1500 – Sarah MacDonald, SPU, 4:46.00. 400 Hurdles – Irene Moore, SMU, 1:05.19. Long Jump – Irene Moore, SMU, 5.15 – 16-10 ¾. Shot Put – Kirby Neale, SMU, 12.43 – 40-9 ½.
For more GNAC Track & Field News check out the GNAC Weekly Report.