Wednesday, February 1, 2017
THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
David Ribich, Western Oregon
Junior • Enterprise, Ore.
Ribich set the WOU and GNAC records in the men’s mile, finishing fifth in the fifth section of the event at the UW Invitational with a time of 4:02.30. The time is a NCAA Championships automatic qualifier and is the best mark in Division II this season. Ribich also anchored the Wolves’ school and GNAC record distance medley relay with a time of 9:45.45. The performance is the best in Division II and a national meet automatic qualifier.
Also Nominated: Isaac Mitchell (Northwest Nazarene), Andrew Wise (Western Washington), Sean Miller (Simon Fraser).
MEN’S FIELD
Gordon Kordas, Western Washington
Senior • Blaine, Wash.
At the UW Invitational, Kordas placed sixth in the second flight of the pole vault with a clearance of 15 feet, 9.25 inches. The performance was a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and third best in the GNAC this season. The mark also ties Kordas for ninth on the GNAC all-time list.
WOMEN’S TRACK
Jamie Ashcroft, Alaska Anchorage
Senior • Shawnigan Lake, B.C.
Ashcroft ran two GNAC-leading performances and improved her NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks in the sprints at the UW Invitational. She ran 7.63 seconds in the second qualifying round of the 60 meters, which ties her for 10th best in Division II this season. She also ran a time of 24.90 seconds in section four of the 200 meters, which is tied for 19th in Division II.
Also Nominated: Brittany Grant (Western Washington), Shannon Porter (Saint Martin’s), Suzie Van de Grift (Western Oregon), Addy Townsend (Simon Fraser).
WOMEN’S FIELD
McKenzie Warren, Concordia
Senior • Sandy, Ore.
Warren won the GNAC weekly award for the third consecutive week after winning the shot put at the UW Invitational. Her mark of 56 feet, 1.25 inches, was more than six feet better than the rest of the field. Warren continues to lead Division II in the shot put with her season best of 57 feet, 7 inches, and is third among all divisions. Warren also placed 11th in her flight of the weight throw at 52 feet, 3 inches.
Also Nominated: Anna Paradee (Western Washington).
AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage picked up nine NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers at the UW Invitational.
• Senior Jamie Ashcroft was named the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week for her two GNAC-leading performances, Ashcroft ran 7.63 seconds in the preliminary rounds of the 60 meters and 24.90 seconds in the 200 meters. Her mark in the 60 meters is tied for 10th best in Division II.
• Senior Dominik Notz ran the conference’s top time this season in the men’s 3,000 meters, placing second in his section of the race in 8:11.10. The time is fifth best in Division II and was just short of his GNAC record of 8:10.19, set last season. Senior Caroline Kurgat also ran a provisional qualifier in the women’s 3,000 meters. Her time of 9:42.45 is second best in the GNAC this season.
• Junior Tamara Perez ran the GNAC’s top time in the women’s 800 meters as she ran 2:13.91. Freshman Vanessa Aniteye hit a NCAA Championships provisional mark in the women’s 200. Her time of 56.81 seconds is third best in the GNAC.
• Junior Edwin Kangogo ran a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time in the men’s 5,000 meters. His time of 14:41.02 is fourth best in the GNAC.
• In the multi-events, senior Travis Turner owns the 14th best point total in Division II in the heptathlon, placing third with 4,951 points. The performance was just short of his lifetime best of 4,983 points and is 14th in Division II.
• All four Seawolves’ relay teams hit NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks. The men’s 4x400 relay won it’s section in 3:16.74, which is 15th in Division II and sixth in GNAC history. The women’s 4x400 relay won its section in 3:49.75, eighth best in Division II and ninth in GNAC history. The men’s distance medley relay is ninth best in Division II with a time of 10:03.45 while the women are third with a time of 11:47.67.
• Alaska Anchorage will compete again on the weekend of Fri., Feb. 10, returning to Seattle for the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open.
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Two improvements on NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks highlighted the Wildcats’ performances at the UW Inviational.
• Junior Ali Anderson improved on her qualifying mark in the women’s 800 meters. She placed second in her flight in 2:14.11, which is fourth in the GNAC and 18th in Division II.
• Sophomore Mariyah Vongsaveng improved her provisional mark in the women’s 60 meters with a time of 8.80 seconds in the preliminary heats. She is now tied for 24th in Division II and leads the GNAC.
• Senior Armando Tafoya improved his marks in both throwing events. He put up the GNAC’s best mark in the shot put with a mark of 50 feet, 11.5 inches. His mark of 55 feet, 9.75 in the weight throw is second best in the league.
• Junior Aiyana Homer won her flight of the shot put with a mark of 41 feet, 6 inches and was second in her flight of the weight throw at 53 feet, 3.5 inches.
• Other CWU section and flight winners included junior Zach Whittaker in the men’s triple jump (46-2,75, No. 2 in GNAC) and freshman Erykah Weems in the women’s 60-meter hurdles preliminaries (8.98 seconds).
• Central Washington returns to action this weekend, taking part in the Cougar Invitational in Pullman, Wash., on Friday and Saturday.
CONCORDIA
• Throwers once again led the way for Concordia at the UW Invitational.
• Senior McKenzie Warren was named the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week for the third consecutive week as she won the shot put with a mark of 56 feet, 1.25 inches. She won the competition by over four feet. Warren’s season best of 57 feet, 7 inches, continues to be third best in all collegiate divisions and fourth best in the U.S. by a female this season.
• Senior Christina MacDonald placed eighth in the top flight of the women’s weight throw with a mark of 54 feet, 7.5 inches. She leads the GNAC and has the 25th best mark in Division II in the weight throw at 56 feet, 1 inch.
• Freshman Chase Stephens placed fifth in her flight of the women’s triple jump with a mark of 35 feet, 5.75 inches, which is third best in the GNAC. Sophomore Tori Johnson matched her season best in the women’s high jump with a clearance of 5 feet, 3 inches.
• The Concordia men were led by the 4x400-meter relay team. The Cavaliers won their section in a time of 3:24.18.
• Concordia is away from competition this weekend. They return to the track on Feb. 10 and 11 for the Husky Classic in Seattle.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings did not compete last weekend. They put the spikes back on this weekend, taking part in the Conglomerate Open in Gillette, Wyo.
• At the Air Force Invitational on Jan. 21, junior Sam Zook broke the MSUB record in the men’s 60 meters in a time of 6.90 seconds. The time is also second best in the GNAC this season and eighth best in conference history.
• Freshman Chuck Carr set the MSUB record in the men’s high jump at the Jan. 22 Dave Little Alumni Mile, clearing 6 feet, 8 inches. The performance is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier, is third best in the GNAC this season and the 10th best in GNAC history.
• Freshman Michaela Johnson broke the school record in the women’s 60 meters as she clocked a time of 9.15 seconds at the Dave Little Alumni Mile, besting the previous mark of 9.31 set by Hope Reid in 2015.
• Zook was among three MSUB athletes to travel to the Division I-laden Air Force Invitational. Senior Austin Lindquist placed sixth in the men’s long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 10.25 inches, while junior Nels Flanagan placed 11th in the men’s shot put with a mark of 41 feet, 8.75 inches.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• A limited roster posted solid marks for the Crusaders at the UW Invitational.
• Junior Isaac Mitchell led the way with a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the men’s 5,000 meters. His time of 14:34.93 is the top mark in the GNAC this season, eighth best in Division II and No. 10 all-time in the GNAC.
• Senior Cole Hoberg placed fourth in his flight of the men’s high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 6.75 inches. Junior Payton Lewis placed 10th in his flight of the men’s pole vault of 16 feet, 3.25 inches. Both marks were short of seasonal bests for both athletes. Lewis is fifth in Division II in the pole vault this season with a mark of 16 feet, 6.75 inches. Hoberg is tied for ninth in the high jump with a season best of 6 feet, 9.75 inches.
• Northwest Nazarene competes again in its backyard on Friday and Saturday, competing at the Jackson’s Invitational in Nampa, Idaho.
SAINT MARTIN’S
• Two Saint Martin’s athletes established NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks to lead the Saints at the UW Invitational.
• Senior Shannon Porter established the conference’s top time this season in the women’s 3,000 meters. Her time of 9:30.70 is a NCAA provisional qualifier, is No. 3 in Division II this season and No. 4 in GNAC history.
• Senior Kirby Neale put up a mark of 53 feet, 10.5 inches in the women’s weight throw. The performance is third best in the GNAC this season, is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and is the 10th best mark in GNAC history.
• Sophomore Jackson Hand placed second in his section of the men’s 200 meters with a time of 22.46 seconds.
• The Saints also had three top flight placers in the men’s field events. Senior Anthony Manago was second in his flight of the long jump with a mark of 22 feet, 1.5 inches, while senior Mitch Wilkens was second in his flight of the weight throw with a mark of 51 feet, 3.5 inches. Senior Mikel Smith placed sixth in his flight of the men’s high jump with a mark of 6 feet, 10.75 inches.
• Saint Martin’s will not compete next weekend. They return to action on at the Hsuky Classic on Feb. 11 and the UW Indoor Open on Feb. 12.
SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific added a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark while others improved their marks at the UW Invitational.
• Freshman Lani Taylor hit a NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the women’s 400 meters, winning her section in a time of 56.79 seconds. The performance is tied for 24th in Division and is the No. 7 time in GNAC history.
• Junior Mary Charleson improved her provisional qualifying mark in the women’s mile as she placed second in her section with a time of 4:56.37. The mark is 14th best in Division II and second in the GNAC. Senior Sarah Macdonald also improved her time in the mile, placing second in her section with a time of 5:03.39.
• Freshman Brooke Benner placed 11th in her first collegiate indoor pentathlon with a score of 3,282 points. In the competitions, she cleared 5 feet, 3.25 inches in the high jump, which is the second best mark in the GNAC this season behind teammate Geneva Lehnert.
• Senior Kyra Brannan placed second in her section of the women’s 200 meters in 25.68 seconds and was third in her flight of the long jump with a mark of 18 feet, 2.25 inches. Brannan is tied for the 25th best mark in Division II in the long jump with her season best of 18 feet, 6.5 inches.
• Seattle Pacific will not compete next weekend. The Falcons will be back for the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open on Feb. 10, 11 & 12.
SIMON FRASER
• It was a great weekend for Simon Fraser as the Clan established eight NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers at the UW Invitational.
• Senior Daniel Kelloway ran the GNAC’s best mark this season and the third best in conference history in the men’s 400 meters, placing third in his section in 48.31 seconds. The time is 15th best in Division II this season.
• Freshman Katherine Lucas improved her mark in the women’s 60 meters, running 7.66 seconds in the second round of preliminaries. The mark is No. 2 in the GNAC this season and moves Lucas to No. 4 on the GNAC all-time list.
• Sophomore Abby Townsend ran a NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the women’s mile. She placed fourth in her section in 4:54.60. That leads the GNAC, is 11th in Division II and is the sixth best mark in conference history.
• Junior Paige Nock improved to the 15th best mark in Division II and the second best in the GNAC in the women’s 800. She placed third in her section with a time of 2:14.01.
• Sophomore Valda Kabia earned a NCAA Championships provisional mark in the women’s 200 meters. Her time of 25.04 seconds is second best in the GNAC this season and tied for 25th in Division II.
• Three Simon Fraser relays earned NCAA provisional qualifying marks. The women’s distance medley relay ran the top time in Division II this season, placing second in its section in a time of 11:39.36. The men’s DMR ran 9:54.51, which is fifth best in Division II. In addition, the men’s 4x400 relay team ran the 17th best time in Division II at 3:16.88.
• Sophomore Carlos Vargas netted a provisional qualifier in the men’s mile. His time of 4:11.52 is second in the GNAC and 14th in Division II. Sophomore Sean Miller is also No. 2 in the GNAC and 11th in Division II in the men’s 5,000 meters with a time of 14:37.39.
• Simon Fraser races close to home this weekend, competing in the Harry Jerome Invitational on Saturday in Richmond, B.C.
WESTERN OREGON
• Two NCAA Championships automatic qualifiers led a big weekend for Western Oregon at the UW Invitational. The Wolves also netted two GNAC record and five school records to earn recognition as the Red Lion Hotels/GNAC Team of the Week.
• Junior David Ribich was named GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week and USTFCCCA Division II Men’s Athlete of the Week after setting the WOU and GNAC records in the mile. The only Division II competitor in his fast section, Ribich automatically qualified for nationals with a time of 4:02.30.
• Ribich then joined forces with Dustin Nading, AJ Holmberg and Josh Dempsey to set GNAC and WOU records in the men’s distance medley relay. The team’s time of 9:45.45 smashed the old record by five seconds and automatically qualified WOU for the NCAA Championships.
• Senior Kennedy Rufener set a WOU record and a NCAA provisional qualifier in the women’s 5,000 meters. She placed fifth in her section with a time of 17:24.07, which is 14th best in Division II.
• Both women’s relay teams ran school records. Suzie Van de Grift, Megan Rose, Olivia Woods and Nicole Maurmann set a record in the DMR with a time 12:05.24. Rose, Van de Grift, Woods and Grayson Burke combined to set the WOU record in the 4x400 relay in a time of 4:06.03.
• Van de Grift also ran a NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 800 meters. Her performance of 2:14.10 is third in the GNAC and tied for 16th in Division II.
WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Two new NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks highlighted Western Washington’s efforts at the UW Invitational.
• Senior Gordon Kordas was named GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he earned a provisional qualifying mark in the men’s pole vault. He placed second in his flight with a clearance of 15 feet, 9.25 inches, which is third in the GNAC and No. 9 on the GNAC all-time list.
• Senior Andrew Wise hit a provisional qualifying mark in the men’s 5,000 meters, winning the second section of the race with a time of 14:39.59. The time ranks 13th in Division II this season.
• Senior Nathan van Tuinen put up the second best mark in the GNAC this season in the men’s long jump with an effort of 22 feet, 10.5 inches. Junior Bryan Lee put together the top mark in the conference in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 55 feet, 11 inches while senior Brandon Pless improved to third in the GNAC with his effort of 54 feet, 4.75 inches.
• Junior Anna Paradee placed sixth in her flight in the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 12 feet, 0.75 inches, which tied her season best. Paradee is 14th in Division II in the event.
• Western Washington returns to action this weekend, competing on Friday and Saturday at the Cougar Indoor in Pullman, Wash.