Wednesday, February 15, 2017

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Sam Zook, Montana State Billings
Junior • Casper, Wyo.

Zook lowered his own MSUB record in the 60 meters at the Mountain State Games, winning the event in a time of 6.85 seconds. The time is second in the GNAC this season (the fastest time in the conference since Dec. 3) and is No. 4 on the GNAC all-time list.

Also Nominated: Logan Armstrong (Saint Martin’s), Joel Webster (Simon Fraser), Ebu Camara (Northwest Nazarene).

MEN’S FIELD
Payton Lewis, Montana State Billings
Junior • Nampa, Idaho

Lewis broke his own school record in the pole vault and automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships at the Boise State Team Challenge with a clearance of 17 feet, 4.5 inches. The mark is the best in the GNAC this season, No. 2 on the GNAC all-time list and tied for third in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Brandon Pless (Western Washington), Nels Flanagan (Montana State Billings).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Shannon Porter, Saint Martin’s
Senior • Vancouver, Wash.

Porter earned an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championships in the 5,000 meters with her performance at the Husky Classic. She finished ninth in her heat with a school record time of 16:29.89, which leads the GNAC and is fourth in Division II this season. The mark also ranks fifth on the GNAC all-time list.

Also Nominated: Paige Nock (Simon Fraser), Danielle McCormick (Alaska Anchorage), Brittany Grant (Western Washington), Josie Smiedala (Montana State Billings), Lexi Tubbs (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S FIELD
McKenzie Warren, Concordia
Senior • Sandy, Ore.

Warren set the Division II all-time record in the shot put at the Husky Classic, winning the event by nearly five feet in a Division I-laden field. Her mark of 57 feet, 9.75 inches bettered the old record of 57 feet, 7.75 inches set by Ashland’s Adriane Blewitt in 2003. The mark is the fifth best in the U.S. and 15th in the world this season.

Also Nominated: Anna Paradee (Western Washington), Nice Loufoua (Northwest Nazarene).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage concluded its indoor regular season by competing in both the Husky Classic and the UW Indoor Open in Seattle.

• Sophomore Danielle McCormick set the UAA school record in the women’s 800 meters at the UW Indoor, finsihing second in 2:10.68. The NCAA provisional qualifying mark is second in the GNAC and 11th in Division II this season.

• Senior Dominik Notz earned an NCAA automatic qualifying mark at the Husky Classic, placing 16th in a Division I heavy men’s 5,000 meters in 14:04.38. The performance is fifth in Division II and No. 2 on the GNAC all-time list. Notz also enters the GNAC Championships as the conference leader in the 3,000 meters (8:11.10)

• Senior Jamie Ashcroft was the only UAA individual event winner over the weekend, capturing the women’s 200 meters at the Husky Classic in a time of 24.54 seconds. The GNAC record holder in both the 60 meters and 200 meters leads the league in in both disciplines. She will try to become the GNAC’s first women’s indoor four-time champion in the 60 meters.

• The Seawolves had improved marks from all four of their NCAA provisionally qualified relay teams. The men’s 4x400 relay team won at the Husky Classic in 3:13.45, which is sixth in the GNAC and No. 2 in GNAC history. The men’s distance medley relay team was second in 9:55.86, 16th in Division II and No. 8 in GNAC history. The women’s 4x400 relay was third in 3:47.22, eighth in Division II and No. 6 in GNAC history while the DMR ran 11:39.24, which is fifth in Division II and No. 8 in GNAC history.

• Alaska Anchorage is the defending GNAC champion on both the men’s and women’s sides. Both teams scored 164 points in 2016.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington’s final tune-up for the GNAC Indoor Championships was at Dempsey Indoor as the Wildcats competed in the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open.

• Sophomore Mariyah Vongsaveng was the Wildcats’ lone event winner in either meet, winning the women’s 60-meter hurdles at the UW Indoor Open in 8.70 seconds. That improved her GNAC best time and puts her tied for 19th in Division II this season. She is the defending GNAC champion.

• Senior Luke Plummer will try to become the first GNAC male indoor four-time champion in the triple jump. Plummer improved his conference best at the Husky Indoor with a leap of 49 feet, 3 inches, which is a NCAA provisional qualifier and tied for 15th in Division II. He also placed third in the event at the UW Indoor Open.

• The Wildcats’ top mark in the sprint events came from freshman Erykah Weems, who placed fifth in the women’s 400 meters at the UW Indoor Open in 57.82 seconds.

• Junior HarLee Ortega enters the GNAC Championships with the conference’s top mark in the pentathlon, having scored 3,348 points at the Feb. 4 Cougar Indoor.

• Senior McKenna Emmert will contend for the GNAC women’s pole vault title. She vaulted 12 feet, 5.5 inches at the Feb. 4 Jacksons Open, which leads the GNAC and is ninth in Division II.

• Senior Kodiak Landis enters as the GNAC leader in both the men’s 60 meters (6.83) and the heptathlon (5,143 points), having notched both marks in the Wildcats’ first meet of the season in December.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia completed its second GNAC indoor regular season at the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday.

• Senior McKenzie Warren not only won the women’s shot put, but became the Division II all-time record holder in the event. Her mark of 57 feet, 9.75 inches surpassed the previous record of 57 feet, 7.75 inches set by Ashland’s Adriane Blewitt in 2003. The mark not only leads Division II, but is fourth in all college divisions, fifth in the U.S. and 16th in the world (as of Feb. 15). The effort earned Warren selection as both the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week and the USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Athlete of the Week.

• Warren is the defending GNAC champion in both the women’s shot put and weight throw. Teammate Christina MacDonald is the current GNAC leader in the weight throw with a season best mark of 56 feet, 1 inch.

• Sophomore Tori Johnson is the defending GNAC champion in the women’s high jump. She currently owns the second best mark in the GNAC with a clearance of 5 feet, 3.75 inches.

• In the women’s triple jump, Rachel Siltman is second in the GNAC (37-6.75) while Chase Stephens is ranked fourth (37-5.75).

• In the men’s competition, freshman Adam Brown enters with the fourth best time in the 200 meters (22.26) and James Phillips ranks fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.53) and sits fifth in the long jump (22-9.25). Ethan Livermore is eighth in the mile (4:21.92). Gino Brown is third in the triple jump (46-0).

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings finished the regular indoor season by breaking three more school records at the Mountain States Games in Pocatello, Idaho.

• Junior Sam Zook lowered his own record in the men’s 60 meters, winning with a time of 6.85 seconds to earn GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors. The mark moves Zook to No. 4 on the GNAC all-time list. With conversion to 6.87 seconds for altitude, Zook is second in the GNAC and tied for 19th in Division II.

• Junior Nels Flanagan also reset his own record in the men’s weight throw with his sixth place performance of 54 feet, 5.25 inches. The mark ranks third in the GNAC entering the conference meet.

• The women’s 4x400-meter relay team of Jewlz Collins, Josey Smiedala, Janessa Williams and Brenna Beckett set a school with a time of 4:03.25.

• Freshman Chuck Carr enters the meet as a provisional qualifier for the GNAC Championships. Carr’s mark of 6 feet, 8 inches, is third in the GNAC and ranks 10th on the GNAC all-time list.

• Freshman Michaela Johnson owns the conference’s sixth fastest time in the women’s 60-meter hurdles at 9.17 seconds (converted for altitude).

• The Yellowjackets are the defending champions in the men’s distance medley relay. They enter the meet with the fourth fastest time this season at 10:20.90.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene finished the regular season with a pair of school records at the Boise State Team Challenge at the Jacksons Track.

• Junior Payton Lewis set the NNU record in the men’s pole vault, placing second with a mark of 17 feet, 4.5 inches. The mark is a NCAA Championships automatic qualifier, ranks No. 2 on the GNAC all-time list and currently is tied for third in Division II this season.

• Lewis is the defending champion in the pole vault and the heptathlon, but will not complete in the multi-events this year. lewis is also the top GNAC athlete in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.36 seconds.

• Senior Ebu Camara set the NNU record in the men’s 400 meters, placing second with a time of 7.14 seconds. The time is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and ranks 24th in Division II.

• Junior Lexi Tubbs had the fastest time in the preliminaries women’s 60-meter hurdles at 8.88 seconds, but did not compete in the final due to her participation on the NNU women’s basketball team. She enters the meet with the third fastest time in the GNAC.

• Senior Cole Hoberg placed second in the men’s high jump with his clearance of 6 feet, 6.75 inches. He enters the GNAC Championships with the second best mark in the GNAC and tied for 12th in Division II at 6 feet, 9.75 inches.

• Senior Taylor Deskins placed third in the women’s 60 meters in a time of 7.94 seconds. She ran 7.92 seconds in the prelims. Deskins enters with the sixth best mark in the GNAC at 7.87 seconds.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• A school record performance and a NCAA Championships automatic qualifier highlighted the Saints’ performances at the Husky Classic and the UW Indoor Open.

• Senior Shannon Porter earned the automatic qualifying mark as she placed 27th in the women’s 5,000 meters in a time of 16:29.89. The performance is fourth in Division II this season and is fifth on the GNAC all-time list. It is also the fastest time in the GNAC this season. Porter leads the GNAC and is sixth in Division II in the 3,000 meters with a time of 9:30.70.

• Senior Mikel Smith placed third in the men’s high jump at Sunday’s UW Indoor with a mark of 6 feet, 8.75 inches. The defending GNAC champion indoors and last year’s NCAA Division II outdoor champion is currently tied for second nationally with a mark of 7 feet, 0.25 inches.

• Senior Kirby Neale has a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier in the women’s weight throw. She is fourth in the GNAC and 53rd in Division II with her school record mark of 53 feet, 10.5 inches at January’s UW Invitational.

• Sophomore Jackson Hand enters the GNAC Championships as the leader in the men’s 200 meters with a time of 21.94 seconds. He is also sixth in the 60 meters, aloing with senior teammate Latrelle Swayne, at 7.06 seconds.

• Senior David Durden enters the conference meet with the third best time in the men’s 60-meter hurdles in 8.47 seconds.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific saw top performances from sophomore Geneva Lehnert and senior Kyra Brannan at the Husky Classic and the UW Indoor Open.

• Lehnert was a top-10 finisher in two events, placing sixth in the women’s high jump at 5 feet, 5.75 inches, and ninth in the long jump at 17 feet, 8.25 inches. Lehnert is the GNAC leader in the high jump and the Husky Classic mark is tied for 32nd in Division II.

• Brannan placed fourth in the long jump wih a mark of 18 feet, 6.5 inches. She currently leads the GNAC and is tied for 36th in Division II with her best of 18 feet, 6.5 inches.

• Senior Michaella Kahns is Seattle Pacific’s lone returning champion. The 2016 women’s pole vault winner went 11 feet, 10.75 inches at the UW Indoor Open, which sits third in the GNAC and tied for 20th in Division II.

• Freshman Lani Taylor hopes to assume the Falcons’ mantle as women’s 400-meter champion left by Jahzelle Ambus. Taylor hit a NCAA provisional mark at the Husky Classic in 56.79 seconds, which is second in the GNAC and eighth on the GNAC all-time list.

• The Falcons will also look to the distances for critical women’s scoring points. Junior Mary Charleson is third in the GNAC and 24th in Division II in the 3,000 meters (9:48.85) and is fifth in the GNAC and 24th in Division II in the mile (4:56.37).

• Junior Peyton Harris is the Falcons’ top scoring chance in the men’s competition. He is currently tied for eighth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.71 seconds.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser added or improved nine NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks at the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open.

• Senior Chantel Desch improved her top mark in the GNAC in the 400 meters. She finished second at the Husky Classic in 56.11 seconds, which is tied for 13th in Division II.

• Senior Vladislav Tsygankov earned a provisional qualifying mark in the 400 meters at the UW Open, finishing third in a time of 48.15 seconds. He is one of three SFU runners with GNAC top-five performances and provisional qualifiers in the event. Tsygankov is also the defending GNAC champion in the long jump and has the league’s top mark at 23 feet, 2.5 inches.

• Junior Joel Webster is the two-time defending champion in the men’s 400 and is fifth in the GNAC this season with a time of 48.71 seconds. Teammate Daniel Kelloway is the current GNAC leader at 47.95 seconds (No. 13 in Division II).

• Both Clan 4x400-meter relay teams posted improvements to their NCAA provisional qualifying marks at the Husky Classic. The men placed second in a time of 3:14.25, the 10th best time in Division II and third fastest in GNAC history. The women placed sixth in 3:49.66, 22nd in Division II and 10th fastest in GNAC history.

• Sophomore Addy Townsend is the defending GNAC champion in the women’s 800 meters and owns the fastest time in the conference this season at 2:10.37 (No. 8 in Division II). Townsend also owns a provisional qualifying mark in the mile at 4:54.60 (No. 19 in Division II).

• Freshman Katherine Lucas will challenge for conference titles in both the women’s 60 meters and 200 meters. She owns the GNAC’s No. 2 marks in each event at 7.66 seconds for 60 meters tied for No. 24 in Division II) and 24.78 seconds in the 200 meters (tied for No. 20 in Division II).

WESTERN OREGON
• Top performances in the 800 meters led Western Oregon’s performances at the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open.

• Junior David Ribich provisionally qualified for nationals in the men’s 800 meters, running the GNAC’s top time to date at 1:50.49. Ribich is automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships in the mile with a time of 4:02.30.

• Junior Suzie Van De Grift provisionally qualified in the women’s 800 meters with her time of 2:12.87. The mark is third in the GNAC and 18th in Division II.

• The women’s distance medley relay team placed fourth at the Husky Classic in a time of 11:50.03, which is fourth best in the GNAC and No. 15 in Division II.

• Freshman Alani Troutman had a pair of top-six finishes in the men’s long jump. He placed sixth at the Husky Classic at 22 feet, 9.75 inches and was fifth at the UW Open with a mark of 22 feet, 5.25 inches.

• The men’s distance medley relay enters the GNAC Championships with a NCAA automatic qualifier, Division II best and school record of 9:45.45.

• Senior Kennedy Rufener enters the meet with the second best time in the GNAC and 30th in Division II in the women’s 5,000 meters at 17:24.07.

• Senior Josh Dempsey enters the championships with the second best GNAC mark and 11th best in Division II in the 800 meters at 1:50.70.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Anna Paradee’s improvement of her provisional qualifying mark in the women’s pole vault led Western Washington’s performances at the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open.

• Paradee finished with a mark of 11 feet, 10.75 inches, at the Husky Classic and then placed eighth at the UW Open at 12 feet, 4.75. The mark is second in the GNAC and 10th in Division II.

• Junior Bryan Lee placed fourth in the men’s weight throw at the UW Open with a mark of 55 feet, 5 inches. Lee enters the conference meet second in the wiehg throw with a mark of 55 feet, 11 inches.

• Senior Brandon Pless is the GNAC leader in the men’s shot put and owns a NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 52 feet, 0.5 inches.

• Senior Gordie Kordas enters the GNAC meet with the the third best mark in the conference in the men’s pole vault and has a provisional qualifying mark at 15 feet, 9.25 inches.

• Senior Andrew Wise is provisionally qualified in two distances. He has the GNAC’s third best time in the 3,000 meters (8:23.18) and the fourth best time in the 5,000 meters (14:39.59).

• Senior Brittany Grant has the conference’s fourth best mark in the women’s 3,000 meters with a provisional qualifying time of 9:54.97. Junior Lilliana Stelling is seventh in GNAC in the event with a time of 10:05.06.