Saturday, March 11, 2017

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A trio of third place finishes by Western Oregon junior David Ribich, Alaska Anchorage junior Caroline Kurgat and Northwest Nazarene junior Payton Lewis led a run of 13 All-American trophies for the GNAC on the final day of the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Ribich, along with Wolves’ teammate Dustin Nading, each won their second trophies of the meet with a back-to-back finish in the finals of the men’s mile. Ribich, who had the fourth best time in the nation entering the meet, placed third in a time of 4:06.24 while Nading was close behind in fourth in a time of 4:06.85. The two were not far off the pace set by Southern Indiana’s Bstian Grau, who won in a time of 4:05.70.

The duo, along with a sixth place finish by junior Josh Dempsey in the 800 meters, led Western Oregon to a tie for sixth place in the team standings with 24 points, the best finish ever by a GNAC men’s team at the indoor nationals.

Kurgat, meanwhile, added a fourth All-American trophy to her inventory with a third place finish in the women’s 3,000 meters, crossing in a time of 9:27.09. The junior was closely followed by Saint Martin’s senior Shannon Porter, who earned her second All-American award of the meet by placing fifth in a time of 9:29.47.

Lewis finished in a tie for third place with Sioux Falls’ Jagger Gran in the men’s pole vault, with both athletes clearing 16 feet, 10.75 inches to earn his second indoor All-American trophy in the event.

In the middle distances, the GNAC brought home three All-Americans in the women’s 800 meters. Simon Fraser sophomore Addy Townsend was an All-American for the second time, placing fourth in 2:08.38. Western Oregon junior Suzie Van De Grift and sophomore Olivia Woods were All-Americans for the first time, with Van De Grift placing fifth in 2:09.10 and Woods placing sixth in 2:09.26.

Dempsey earned his second trophy of the meet, adding to the national title the Wolves won in the distance medley relay. He claimed sixth place in the men’s 800 meters in a time of 1:51.20. Also adding a second All-American title was Simon Fraser’s Vladislav Tsygankov, who placed seventh in the men’s 400 meters in 48.39 seconds.

Alaska Anchorage senior Dominik Notz became an All-American in the men’s 3,000 meters, placing seventh with a GNAC record time of 8:07.28. Notz broke his own record of 8:10.19, set last year. Teammate Jamie Ashcroft earned All-American honors in the women’s 200 meters, placing seventh in 24.13 seconds.

The Seawolves saw both 4x400-meter relays earn All-American honors. The women’s team of Ashcroft, Mary Kathleen Cross, Hayley Bezanson and Vanessa Aniteye placed seventh in a time of 3:45.10, earning UAA’s first ever All-American finish in the event. The men’s squad of Nicholas Taylor, Liam Lindsay, Darrion Gray and Adam Commandeur placed eighth in a time of 3:13.69. Both finish times are the second fastest in GNAC history in the event.

Simon Fraser’s Paige Nock earned Second Team All-American honors in the women’s mile, placing ninth in a time of 4:48.31. Her Clan teammate, Ella Brown, finished 13th in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 39 feet, 5.25 inches.

Behind Western Oregon in the men’s team standings, Saint Martin’s placed 20th with 10 points and Alaska Anchorage tied for 28th with seven points. The Seawolves led the GNAC women’s teams, tying for 21st place with 10 points. Simon Fraser tied for 24th place with eight points and Western Oregon was 29th with seven points.