Thursday, February 9, 2017

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Daniel Kelloway, Simon Fraser
Senior • Mount Bearl, N.L.

Kelloway set the meet record in the 400 meters at the Hillsdale Wide Track Classic in Michigan, winning the event in a time of 48.71 seconds. The mark leads the GNAC and is 10th on the GNAC all-time list. When converted for track size to 47.95 seconds, the performance ranks No. 10 in Division II. Kelloway also ran the anchor leg on the Clan’s 4x400-meter relay that won with a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time of 3:18.94. When converted to 3:15.82 for track size, the mark is not only a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark, but leads the GNAC and is 13th in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Austin Lindquist (Montana State Billings), Payton Lewis (Northwest Nazarene).

MEN’S FIELD
Nels Flanagan, Montana State Billings
Junior • Big Timber, Mont.

Flanagan reset his own school record for the second time this season at the Conglomerate Open, placing second with a mark of 53 feet, 11.25 inches. The performance is fourth best in the GNAC this season.

Also Nominated: Micah Tranch (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Addy Townsend, Simon Fraser
Sophomore • Coquitlam, B.C.

Townsend notched a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the 800 meters at the Hillsdale Wide Track Classic, winning the event in 2:11.77. After conversion to 2:10.27 for track size, Townsend leads the GNAC and has the eight best time in Division II this season. Townsend also ran the third leg of the Clan’s 4x400-meter relay team, which finished sixth in 3:59.46.

Also Nominated: Macie Allen (Western Washington), Taylor Deskins (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S FIELD
McKenna Emmert, Central Washington
Senior • Kelso, Wash.

Emmert improved her NCAA Championships provisional qualifier in the pole vault. She placed fourth in the event at the Jackson’s/New Balance Invitational with a mark of 12 feet, 5.5 inches. The mark leads the GNAC, is seventh in Division II and is tied for fifth on the GNAC all-time list.

Also Nominated: Janessa Williams (Montana State Billings), Anna Paradee (Montana State Billings), Jackie Mahowald (Northwest Nazarene).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage did not compete last weekend. The Seawolves will be in Seattle this weekend, competing in both the Husky Classic and the UW Indoor Open.

• Senior Jamie Ashcroft continues to rank as one of Division II’s top women’s sprinters. She enters the week tied for 14th and leads the GNAC in the 60 meters (7.63) and tied for 21st in the 200 meters (24.90).

• Senior Dominik Notz continues to have the GNAC’s top time in the men’s 3,000 meters. His time of 8:11.10 is seventh in Division II. Junior Edwin Kangogo is also provisionally qualified in the 5,000 meters. His time of 14:41.02 is 17th in Division II.

• In the women’s distances, junior Caroline Kurgat is 12th in Division II in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:42.45.

• Three of Alaska Anchorage’s four relays have provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships. The women’s 4x400-meter relay is 11th in Division II with a time of 3:49.75. The men’s distance medley relay is 15th in Division II with a time of 10:03.45 and the men’s 4x400-meter relay is 19th in 3:16.74.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington athletes improved three NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers in two meets over the weekend.

• Senior McKenna Emmert was named the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after improving her provisional mark in the women’s pole vault at the Jackson’s New Balance Invitational in Nampa, Idaho. Emmert placed fourth in the event with a mark of 12 feet, 5.5 inches. The performances leads the GNAC, is tied for fifth on the GNAC all-time list and is seventh in Division II.

• Sophomore Mariyah Vongsaveng improved her mark in the women’s 60-meter hurdles at the Cougar Indoor in Pullman, Wash. She placed second with a time of 8.74 seconds, which leads the GNAC and is 23rd in Division II. Vongsaveng is the defending GNAC champion in the event.

• Junior HarLee Ortega also improved her provisional qualifying in the women’s pentathlon at the Cougar Indoor. Her third place score of 3,326 points is tops in the GNAC and 24th in Division II.

• Junior Aiyana Homer won the women’s shot put at the Cougar Indoor with a mark of 42 feet, 4 inches. She led a top-three sweep of the event for the Wildcats. Angela Mumford was second at 40 feet, 5.5 inches and Megan Mortensen was third in 40 feet, 2.25 inches.

• The men’s 4x400-meter relay was the Wildcats’ other event winner, capturing the competition in 3:26.76.

• Central Washington will be among eight GNAC teams competing at the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open in Seattle this weekend.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia did not compete last weekend. They will be among the GNAC field competing at the Hsuky Classic in Seattle on Saturday and Sunday.

• Senior McKenzie Warren continues to lead Division II and rank third in all collegiate divisions in the shot put with her GNAC record mark of 57 feet, 7 inches, at the Jan. 21 Bronco Invitational. She also has the fifth best mark in the event in the United States this season.

• Senior Christina MacDonald leads the GNAC and has the 26th best mark in Division II in the women’s weight throw with her mark of 56 feet, 1 inch. MacDonald is also 27th nationally in the shot put with a mark of 45 feet, 0.25 inches.

• Freshman Adam Brown enters the week with the GNAC’s fourth best time in the men’s 200 meters in 22.46 seconds. Freshman James Phillips has the fourth best time in the GNAC in the men’s 60 meters at 8.53 seconds and the fourth best mark in the long jump with a mark of 22 feet, 9.25 inches. Senior Ethan Livermore is fifth in the GNAC in the mile with a time of 4:21.92 while senior Paris Speidel is sixth in the GNAC in the men’s 800 meters with a time 1:56.39.

• In the women’s field events (other than the throws), sophomore Tori Johnson is tied for second in the GNAC in the high jump with a best of 5 feet, 3.25 inches. Freshman Chase Stephens is fourth in the GNAC in the long jump at 17 feet, 2 inches.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings’ athletes fell three more school records at the Conglomerate Open in Gillette, Wyo.

• Sophomore Janessa Williams won the women’s triple jump with a record mark of 35 feet, 10 inches. That bettered the former record of 35-6.75 set by Leah Berry in 2011. Williams currently ranks ninth in the GNAC.

• Junior Nels Flanagan was named GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he lowered his record in the weight throw for the second time this season. He took second with a mark of 53 feet, 11.25 inches, which is fourth in the GNAC this season.

• Senior Austin Lindquist also lowered his own record in the 60-meter hurdles, placing second in a time of 8.62 seconds. He enters the week with the sixth best mark in the GNAC.

• Freshman Michaela Johnson won the women’s 60-meter hurdles in a time of 9.23 seconds. Freshman Jamie Orme won the women’s high jump with a mark of 4 feet, 11 inches and freshman Brenna Beckett won the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 9.25 inches.

• The MSUB men had two individual event winners. Junior Mark Hovland won the 800 meters in a time of 2:02.35 and freshman Chuck Carr won the long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 7.5 inches.

• Montana State Billings will finish its run-up to the GNAC Championships this weekend at the Mountain State Games in Pocatello, Idaho.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Two improvements to the top of the GNAC seasonal best lists led Northwest Nazarene’s efforts at the Jackson’s New Balance Invitational.

• Freshman Jackie Mahowald matched the season best in the women’s triple jump, placing sixth in the event with a mark of 37 feet, 6.75 inches.

• Junior Payton Lewis notched his second GNAC best mark of the season. He placed fourth in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.37 seconds. He also won the pole vault with a mark of 16 feet, 0.75 inches and placed third in the long jump with a mark of 22 feet, 2.5 inches. Lewis also owns the GNAC’s top mark in the pole vault. His best of 16 feet, 6.75 inches is tied for seventh in Division II this season.

• Lewis paced a top-three sweep for the Crusaders in the men’s pole vault. Junior Jared Webster placed second with a clearance of 15 feet, 7 inches while senior Zach McClanahan placed third with a mark of 15 feet, 1 inches.

• Senior Cole Hoberg placed second in the high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 9 inches. The mark was just short of his season best and school record of 6 feet, 9.75 inches, which is tied for 12th in Division II this season.

• Northwest Nazarene will compete in it’s last tuneup for the GNAC Championships on the track the meet will be run on. The Crusaders will be at the Boise State Team Challenge at the Jackson’s Indoor Center.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s sat out the weekend from competition. The Saints will finish its run-up to the GNAC Championships this weekend at the Husky Classic and the UW Indoor Open in Seattle.

• Senior Mikel Smith enters the week tied for second in Division II in the men’s high jump. His best of 7 feet, 0.25, which was set back in December, is just a quarter-inch short of his own GNAC record.

• Senior Shannon Porter leads the GNAC and is fourth in Division II in the women’s 3,000 meters. Her time of 9:35.31, run at January’s UW Invitational, is also the fourth fastest time in GNAC history.

• Senior Kirby Neale owns the GNAC’s third best mark in the women’s weight throw with a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark of 53 feet, 10.5 inches. She is currently 48th in Division II.

• Sophomore Jackson Hand owns the GNAC’s top mark in the men’s 200 meters. He ran his time of 21.94 seconds at the Jackson’s Open in December. Senior David Durden is third in the GNAC in the men’s 60 meters with a time of 8.47 seconds at the Jackson’s Open.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific did not compete last weekend. The Falcons will compete this weekend at the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open in Seattle.

• Junior Mary Charleson owns NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks in two events. She is 18th in Division II in the women’s 3,000 meters in 9:48.85 and is 19th in the mile with a time of 4:56.37. Senior Sarah Macdonald is sixth in the GNAC and 36th in Division II in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:00.86.

• Freshman Lani Taylor owns the GNAC’s second best mark in the 400 meters with a time of 56.79 seconds at the UW Invitational. Taylor is also tied for 27th in Division II.

• Senior Kyra Brannan is provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the women’s long jump. Her mark of 18 feet, 6.5 inches is tied for 31st in Division II and leads the GNAC. She also owns the GNAC’s fifth best mark in the 200 meters with a time of 25.68 seconds.

• The Falcons’ women’s 4x400-meter relay team is second in the GNAC with a time of 3:52.50. They also own the second best conference time in the women’s distance medley relay with a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time of 11:42.22. That is also fourth in Division II.

• Seattle Pacific also owns the top two marks in the women’s high jump. Sophomore Geneva Lehnert leads the conference with a mark of 5 feet, 5 inches, while fresdhman Brooke Benner is second at 5 feet, 3.25 inches.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser athletes added or improved seven NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks at the Hillsdale Wide Track Invitational in Hillsdale, Mich.

• Senior Daniel Kelloway was named the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he set a meet record in the men’s 400 meters with a winning time of 48.71 seconds. When converted to 47.95 for track size, Kelloway stands No. 10 on the Division II best list.

• Sophomore Abby Townsend was named GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she just missed the meet record in the women’s 800 meters, winning in a time of 2:11.77. After conversion to 2:10.37 for track size, Townsend is eighth in the Division II best list. Townsend also owns a provisional qualifer and the GNAC’s top time in the mile at 4:54.60.

• Freshman Katherine Lucas added a NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the women’s 200 meters. Her second time of 24.78 seconds leads the GNAC and is tied for 15th in Division II. Lucas is also provisionally qualified in the 60 meters. Her time of 7.66 seconds is second in the GNAC and tied for 20th in Division II.

• Senior Chantel Desch improved her provisional qualifying mark in the women’s 400 meters, placing third in a time of 57.25 seconds. That mark leads the GNAC and is 19th in Division II.

• Junior Paige Nock finished third in the women’s mile in a time of 5:02.65. After converstion to 4:59.69 for track size, the time of 4:59.69 ranks third in the GNAC and 27th in Division II.

• The Clan’s men’s 4x400-meter relay team improved its provisional qualifying mark, winning in a time of 3:18.94. After conversion to 3:15.82 for track size, the performance is tops in the GNAC and 13th in Division II.

• Simon Fraser will join seven other GNAC teams this weekend at the Husky Classic and the UW Indoor Open in Seattle.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon did not compete last weekend. The Wolves will try to solidify times for the GNAC Championships this weekend in Seattle at the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open.

• Junior David Ribich ranks second in Division II and is automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships after he ran 4:02.30 in the mile at the UW Invitational. Robich also has a provisional qualifier in the 3,000 meters. His time of 8:13.94 is 14th in Division II.

• Ribich, Dustin Nading, AJ Holmberg and Josh Dempsey set GNAC and WOU records in the men’s distance medley relay at the UW Invitational. 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 is 17th in Division II this season and leads the GNAC with her school record time in the women’s 5,000 meters. Rufener provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships by running 17:24.07 at the UW Invitational.

• Suzie Van de Grift is tied for 24th in Division II in the women’s 800 meters and is fifth in the GNAC after running 2:14.10 at the UW Invitational.

• Dempsey enters the week as the GNAC leader and ranked ninth in Division II in the men’s 800 meters with his time of 1:51.35.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• An improvement in her provisional mark in the women’s pole vault by Anna Paradee led Western Washington’s efforts at the Cougar Indoor last weekend.

• Paradee placed third in the event with a clearance of 12 feet, 1.5 inches. The mark imroved her to a tie for 14th on the Division II best list and is 10th on the GNAC all-time list.

• Freshman Macie Allen ran the seventh fastest time in WWU history with her preliminaries time of 7.99 seconds in the women’s 60 meters. Freshman Alex Taylor placed seventh in the finals of the men’s 60 meters with a time of 7.14 seconds. His time of 7.15 seconds was No. 4 in the preliminary heats.

• Sophomore Daniel Jones placed third in the men’s 200 meters in 23.20 seconds while Cordell Cummings was sixth in the qualifying round of the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.76 seconds.

• Senior Megan Mortensen placed third in the women’s shot put with a mark of 40 feet, 2.25 inches. Bryan Lee added a fourth place finish in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 54 feet, 8.25 inches.

• Western Washington will finish their run to the GNAC Championships this weekend, appearing in the Husky Classic and the UW Indoor Open in Seattle.