Wednesday, January 27, 2016
THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Kyle McLaughlin, Northwest Nazarene
Junior • Kuna, Idaho
In a field dominated by Division I competition, McLaughlin finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles at the Bronco Invitational with a time of 8.41 seconds. It is a season best for the junior and fourth best in the GNAC this season.
Also Nominated: Austin Collins (Concordia), Jackson Hand (Saint Martin’s), Landon Polkow (Montana State Billings).
MEN’S FIELD
Mikel Smith, Saint Martin’s
Senior • Muskogee, Okla.
Smith finished second in the high jump at the WSU Indoor Open with a season-best mark of 6 feet, 10.75 inches. The GNAC leader and record holder in the event enters the week tied for eighth on the Division II best list.
Also Nominated: Nels Flanagan (Montana State Billings), Cole Hoberg (Northwest Nazarene), Josh Koch (Concordia).
WOMEN’S TRACK
Shannon Porter, Saint Martin’s
Senior • Vancouver, Wash.
Porter broke a nine-year-old meet record at the WSU Indoor Open, winning the 3,000 meters in a time of 10:10.44 and smashed her own Saint Martin’s record in the event by 19 seconds. Porter currently sits sixth on the GNAC top-times list.
Also Nominated: Sierra Manzer (Northwest Nazarene), Caitlyn Safley (Concordia), Josey Smiedala (Montana State Billings).
WOMEN’S FIELD
McKenzie Warren, Concordia
Sophomore • Sandy, Ore.
For the second straight week, Warren broke the GNAC record in the shot put. She won the event at the Bronco Invitational by a foot with a personal best of 54 feet. The mark is second best in Division II this season and is the 17th best collegiate mark this season (all divisions). In addition, Warren placed third in the weight throw. Her personal best of 55 feet, 5.5 inches is No. 4 on the GNAC all-time list.
Also Nominated: Emmi Collier (Western Oregon), Rachel Miller (Northwest Nazarene), Kirby Neale (Saint Martin’s), Janessa Williams (Montana State Billings).
AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage did not compete last weekend. The Seawolves will join seven other GNAC teams at the UW Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Seattle.
• The Alaska Anchorage women are ranked No. 13 in the latest USTFCCCA Division II Team Computer Rankings, up from their preseason No. 21 ranking. They are the only GNAC team, men or women, to be ranked nationally. The Alaska Anchorage men are ranked No. 1 in the USTFCCA West Region Team Index.
• Multi-event standout Karolin Anders continues to rank No. 2 in Division II in the pentathlon, placing second at the Ed Jacoby Invitational with a score of 3,813 points. The performance is just nine points off of her personal best in the event. In the process, Anders set NCAA provisionals qualifying marks in the high jump (5-7.25) and the long jump (18-8.75).
• Cody Thomas placed second in the heptathlon at the Ed Jacoby Invitational with a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying score of 5,324 points. The performance was just six points short of the automatic qualifying standard and currently is the second best point total in Division II. Thomas also achieved a provisional qualifying standard in the high jump (6-8.75) and his time in the heptathlon 60 meters (6.97 seconds) tied the UAA record. Teammate Travis Turner also earned a provisional qualifying mark in the heptathlon, scoring 4,885 points.
• Rosie Smith set the UAA record in the 60 meters at the Jacoby Invite, placing second in a time of 8.76 seconds. She also dropped .03 seconds off her No. 3 time on the GNAC all-time list and currently is tied for 18th in Division II this season. She also enters the week ranked 23rd in Division II in the pentathlon with a provisional qualifier of 3,236 points at the Ed Jacoby Invitational.
• Joyce Chelimo led the GNAC’s women’s distance runners at the UW Preview. She placed 11th in the 3,000 meters in 9:34.28, provisionally qualifying for nationals and moving into No. 4 on the GNAC all-time list. She missed the automatic qualifying standard by one second and currently ranks No. 3 in Division II in the event.
• Sprinter Jamie Ashcroft is currently ranked No.10 in Division II in the 200 meters with her provisional qualifying time of 24.82 seconds at the Ed Jacoby Invitational. She is also tied for 19th in the 60 meters with her provisional qualifying time of 7.66 seconds.
• In the men’s distances, Nathan Kipchumba is ranked 14th in Division II in the 800 meters with a time of 1:53.55. Henry Cheseto is ranked 14th in the 3,000 meters (8:25.61) and Michael Ramirez is 16th (8:26.02).
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington competed for the second week in a row, joining Saint Martin’s for the WSU Indoor Open on Friday and Saturday in Pullman, Wash.
• Both the men’s and women’s 4x400-meter relay teams placed second in the event. The women were bettered only by Carroll (Mont.), running a time of 4:07.33 that is third best in the GNAC. The CWU men also finished second to Carroll in 3:31.52, fourth best in the GNAC.
• Luke Plummer was the Wildcats’ top individual placer, taking second in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 46-3.25. The performance was not an improvement on his provisional qualifying mark of 47-7 at the Idaho Invitational, which ranks 24th in Division II.
• Senior distance runner Dani Eggleston owns the 20th best time in Division II in the women’s 3,000 meters with her time of 10:00.08 at the Idaho Invitational. She is one of four GNAC runners with provisional qualifying marks in the event.
• Other top women’s finishers at the WSU Indoor Open included Jayna Inderbitizin in the 400 meters (6th, 1:00.89) and Alexa Shindruk in the 3,000 meters (10:35.90).
• Other top men’s finishers at the WSU Indoor Open included Kent McKinney in the 60 meters (4th, 7.13) and Armando Tafoya in the weight throw (5th, 52-6).
• Central Washington will be among the eight GNAC teams competing in the UW Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Seattle.
CONCORDIA
• Five Concordia athletes notched top-three finishes as they continued their first Division II season at the Bronco Invitational in Nampa, Idaho.
• Sophomore McKenzie Warren broke her own GNAC record in the women’s shot put, winning the event with a mark of 54 feet. The performance ranks No. 2 in Division II this season and is 17th best at the collegiate level at all divisions. Warren also finished third in the weight throw. Her mark of 55-5.5 in fourth best in GNAC history. The performances earned Warren her second straight GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honor.
• Christina MacDonald finished second in the women’s shot put with a season best of 44-8.25. The performance ties her with Montana State Billings’ Leeza Henry (2012) for No. 7 on the GNAC all-time list.
• Josh Koch was a winner in the men’s shot put with a mark of 54-0.5. The effort did not better his season best of 55-7.75 from last week’s UW Preview, which is currently 12th best in Division II.
• Tyler Lamott added a second place finish in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 57-1.5. His season best in the event is 58-9.5, set at last week’s UW Preview.
• Austin Collins was Concordia’s only top-three placer in the running events, winning the men’s 600 meters in 1:21.38.
• Carlos Ortiz placed eighth in the men’s 60 meters in a time of 7.06 seconds. His season best of 7.02 seconds at the UW Preview is fourth best in the GNAC. Ortiz also has the second best time in the GNAC in the 200 meters with a 22.47 seconds at the UW Preview.
• Concordia will be among eight GNAC teams competing in the UW Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Seattle. Some Concordia athletes will also compete in the latest of the TrackTown USA High Performance meets on Friday in Portland.
• 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 had eight top-three finishers as the only GNAC team competing at the Dave Little Alumni Mile meet on Saturday in Spearfish, S.D.
• Josey Smiedala led the women’s sprinters, winning 400 meters in a time of 1:01.90. Janessa Williams finished second in the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 9.77 seconds. Williams also finished second in the triple jump in a mark of 35-5.25, sixth best in the GNAC.
• Landon Polkow led the MSUB men’s runners, winning the 400-meter hurdles in 56.35 seconds. Robert Peterson was second in the mile in a time of 4:21.20. When adjusted for track size and altitude, his converted time of 4:14.42 leads the GNAC.
• Nels Flanagan was the winner for the Yellowjackets in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 48-1.25. The week before, Flanagan set the MSUB record with a performance of 52-2.75.
• Shanina Schwend finished third in the women’s long jump with a leap of 15-3.25. Brady Ostermiller added a third place finish in the men’s shot put with a mark of 44-4.25, currently 10th best in the GNAC.
• Montana State Billings will not compete this weekend, one of two GNAC programs not in action. The Yellowjackets return to the track at the Mountain State Games on Sat., Feb. 6, in Pocatello, Idaho.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene returned to action in their own backyard on Saturday, competing in Boise State’s Bronco Invitational at the Jacksons Indoor Center.
• Payton Lewis was one of two individual event winners for the Crusaders, winning the men’s pole vault with a season best of 16-2.75. The performance leads the GNAC and is sixth in Division II. Lewis also owns a provisional qualifier in the heptathlon, ranked seventh in the nation with a score of 4,963 points.
• Cole Hoberg improved his season best and NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the men’s high jump, placing second with a mark of 6-8.75. He missed the NNU record by a quarter inch. The performance is tied for 18th in Division II.
• Kyle McLaughlin placed fourth in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a season best time of 8.41 seconds. The performance is fourth best in the GNAC. The performance earned McLaughlin selection as the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week.
• Sierra Manzer placed fourth in the women’s 1,000 meters, clocking a time of 3:09.17. Chase Cunningham placed seventh in the men’s 800 meters with a time of 2:01.11, improving to No. 13 in the GNAC this season.
• The Crusaders will be idle this weekend, returning to action on Feb. 5 and 6 with the Jacksons/New Balance Indoor Invitational at the Jacksons Indoor Center.
SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s competed in their first meet in a month on Saturday, joining Central Washington at the WSU Indoor Open. In the process, the Saints came away with three individual event placers.
• Shannon Porter was named the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she broke a nine-year old meet record and her own SMU record in the women’s 3,000 meters. Her time of 10:10.44 bettered the previous meet record of 10:15.95 set by Central Washington’s Katie Hummel in 2007 and smashed her own school record of 10:29.64. Porter is current No. 6 in the GNAC this season.
• Mikel Smith, the GNAC record holder in the men’s indoor high jump, was named the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week for the second time this season after finishing second in the event with a leap of 6-10.75. The performance moves him into a tie for eighth on the Division II season best list.
• Senior Kirby Neale set a school record in the women’s weight throw for the second week in a row, placing fifth with a mark of 52-3.25. The performance is fifth best in the GNAC this season.
• The men’s 4x400 meter relay team placed third with a time of 3:32.90, finishing behind squads from Carroll (Mont.) and Central Washington.
• Saint Martin’s will travel north this weekend to take part in the UW Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Seattle.
SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific was idol last weekend and will return to action at the UW Invitational this weekend.
• Freshman Geneva Lehnert opened her collegiate career by placing fourth in the women’s high jump at the UW Preview on Jan. 16, clearing 5-7. The mark is a NCAA provisional qualifier and is tied for eighth in Division II this season. Her teammate, sophomore Naphtali Ward, placed seventh and also hit a provisional qualifier with her mark of 5-5. She is currently tied for 28th in Division II.
• Senior Lynelle Decker sits 10th in Division II in the women’s 800 meters with her time of 2:15.03 at the UW Preview. She currenly leads the GNAC.
• Senior Janzelle Ambus is tied for 10th in Division II in the women’s 400 meters her time of 56.57 seconds at the UW Preview. The defending GNAC champion in the event just missed her personal best of 56.18 seconds.
• While finishing 24th in a women’s 3,000 meters loaded with Division I athletes at the UW Preview, senior Anna Patti earned a provisional qualifying mark with a time of 9:58.84. The time is seventh in Division II this season and makes her one of four GNAC athletes qualified in the event (Joyce Chelimo, Rebecca Bassett, Dani Eggleston).
SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser was idle last week. The Clan opened the indoor season with four NCAA provisional qualifying marks and three improvements on GNAC top-10 list marks on Jan. 16 at the UW Preview.
• Marc-Antoine Rouleau posted a four-second personal best in the men’s 3,000 meters, finishing sixth in 8:11.17. The performance is a NCAA provisional qualifier and currently ranks No. 3 in Division II.
• Rebecca Bassett also earned a NCAA provisional qualifier in the women’s 3,000 meters, placing 16th in a time of 9:40.31. The performance is fifth best in Division II this season and places her among four GNAC provisional qualifiers in the event.
• Jumper Vladislav Tsygankov picked up a provisional qualifying mark in the long jump, placing fourth with a leap of 23-6. The performance puts Tsygankov 13th in Division II this season and was just .75 inches off his personal best of 23-6.75, which is No. 3 on the GNAC all-time list.
• Valda Kabia just made the NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the women’s 60 meters, running a time of 7.72 seconds in the preliminary heats. The performance is second fastest in the GNAC thie season and is tied for 30th in Division II.
WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon became the first GNAC team to compete on what is dubbed the “world’s fastest indoor track,” taking part in TrackTown USA’s High Performance Meet #2 on Friday at Nike’s House of Track in Portland.
• Senior Badane Sultessa earned a NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the men’s 800 meters, finishing fourth in a time of 1:53.01. The performance leads the GNAC and is 11th in Division II. Sultessa ran a school record time of 1:19.95 in the men’s 600 meters at the Jan. 16 UW Preview, surpassing the mark of 1:22.03 set by Brett Yancey in 1994.
• Senior Emmi Collier also notched a NCAA provisional qualifier in the women’s shot put. Her mark of 46-3.5 in the shot put is second best in the GNAC and tied for 10th in Division II.
• In all, six WOU individual performers earned top three finishes in the meet. Megan Rose finished second in the 200 meters in 1:00.27. Debora De Leon finished second in the 5,000 meters in 19:55.80 and Kathryn Pitts was second in the triple jump at 34-3.5. The women’s 4x400 relay team won in a time of 4:05.36.
• Four WOU men notched top-three finishes. Aaron Whitaker placed second in the 200 meters in 22.81 seconds while Kaleb Dobson placed second in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.37 seconds. The men’s 4x400 relay was also a winner in 3:26.20.
• Western Oregon returns to competition this weekend at the UW Invitational in Seattle.
WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington did not compete last weekend. The Vikings return to competition this weekend at the UW Invitational in Seattle.
• Travis Milbrandt placed fifth in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.28 seconds at the UW Preview. Milbradt ran 8.17 in the prelims, a NCAA provisional qualifier and 14th in Division II this season.
• Senior Mark Seely placed sixth in the men’s triple jump at the UW Preview. His mark of 46-10.25 is a NCAA provisional qualifier and is 37th in Division II. The performance is No. 2 on the WWU all-time list.
• Senior Jasmine McMullin tied for 10th in the women’s triple jump with a NCAA provisional qualifying jump of 37-11.5. The performance is 19th best in Division II this season.
• The men’s 4x400 meter relay team of Jade Wilson, Ryan McArthur, Reid Lovercamp and Daniel Jones placed third with a time of 3:22.62, the fifth fastest in school history.
• Sophomore Isaac Derline’s time of 8:27.34 in the men’s 3,000 meters is the third best in WWU history. McArthur’s time of 49.64 seconds in the men’s 400 meters in fourth best in school history.