Wednesday, February 19, 2014

NAMPA, Idaho  – Defending team champions Western Washington and Alaska Anchorage figure to be the teams to beat this weekend in the 11th annual GNAC Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships.  The meet begins Friday morning at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, Idaho, with the multi-events.

The WWU men have the top seed in eight of the 17 events and return five defending champions, while the UAA women have seven No. 1 seeds.

Back to lead Western Washington’s men are five athletes – Alex Donigian (20 points), Jonathon Poolman (15 points), Kevin Yates (13 points), Logan Myers (12 points) and Brett Watson (12 points) - who combined for 72 of WWU’s winning team total of 152 last year.

The five won five individual titles and Poolman contributed to a sixth, running the lead leg on the 4x400 relay team that finished first in a meet-record time of 3:18.17.  WWU has run 3:16.81 this season, the second best time in GNAC history.

Last year Donigian swept the 60 (meet-record 6.85 and 200 (21.96), while Poolman, Yates and Myers won the 400 (48.85), long jump (23-4) and high jump (6-7), respectively. 

This winter Donigian has the best times in the GNAC in both of his events including a GNAC-record 6.76 in the 60 which ranks fifth nationally, and 22.14 in the 200.

Poolman ranks second in the 400 (49.00) in back of Ethan Hewitt of Alaska Anchorage (48.65).  Yates is the conference leader in the long jump (22-9), while Myers ranks second in the high jump (6-6 ¼) in back of Watson, who set a GNAC-record of 6-10 ¼ last month at Seattle.

WWU also has the top seed in the mile (Chip Jackson 4:07.95), 60 hurdles (Travis Milbrandt and Myers both with times of 8.30) and shot put (Frank Catelli 57-5 ½).  Catelli’s mark ranks eighth nationally and Jackson’s time ranks 10th.

WWU, which has won three men’s team indoor titles, could get its toughest challenge from Alaska Anchorage, which will be led by Micah Chelimo, who swept the mile, 3000 and 5000 last year, in winning Outstanding Performer honors. 

Chelimo is the top seed in the latter two events and has the best time nationally in the 5K.  Both his 3K (8:10.99) and 5K (13:47.73) times are GNAC records.

The Seawolves also return Cody Thomas, who is the defending champion and top seed (4,805 points) in the heptathlon.

In all but four events, the men’s defending champion returns. 

In addition to the WWU and UAA athletes, defending champions include Western Oregon’s Ryan Hansen in the 800 (1:53.27) and Andrew Venema of Central Washington in the 60 hurdles (8.29).

Two other former champions are also in the field.  Seth Pierson of Seattle Pacific was the 2012 mile champion before finishing third last season.

Brett Campbell of Western Oregon, which won five consecutive team titles between 2008 and 2012, was the 2012 60 hurdles champion.

Among the top seeds for the Alaska Anchorage women are Jamie Ashcroft in the 60 (7.70) and 200 (GNAC-record 24.89), Joyce Kipchumba in the 3000 (9:33.60) and 5000 (16:49.59), Haleigh Lloyd in the 400 (58.56) and Karolin Anders in the pentathlon  (3774).  UAA also has the best time in the distance medley relay (11:45.08).

Kipchumba’s times rank third (3,000) and second (5,000) nationally, while Anders’ pentathlon score currently ranks third.

Northwest Nazarene, which is currently ranked second in the USTFCCCA West Regional computer rankings in back of UAA, has five top seeds including Marie Smith in the 60 hurdles (8.87),  Alison Silva in the pole vault (12-7 ½), Vessie Umu in the shot put (43-10 ½) and Caitlin Curtis in the weight throw (50-8 ¼).  NNU is also the current leader in the 4x400 (3:58.24).

Western Washington’s Tanya Bjornsson is among four  champions competing in events they have previously won.

Bjornsson scored 33 points last year to win the Female Outstanding Performer award.  She won both the 60 (7.84) and 60 hurdles (8.79) and also finished second in the long jump (18-8) and third in the 200 (25.50).  She also won the 60 hurdles in 2011.

She comes in as the top seed in the long jump (18-8 ½) and is the No. 4 seed in the 60 (7.90) and the No. 2 seed in the 60 hurdles (8.92).  Bjornsson, who will skip the 200 this year, also comes in ranked 13th in GNAC history in career points with 53.

Also back to defend her title is Rosie Smith of Alaska Anchorage in the 200 (25.20). 

Two other athletes are also past champions in events they are competing this weekend – Madison McClung of Western Oregon in the 200  and McKayla Fricker of Seattle Pacific in the 800.  Both won those events in 2012.

Fricker currently is ranked third nationally in the 800 with a best time of 2:09.04 just ahead of Sarah Sawatzky of Simon Fraser (2:09.42).

Other Top 10 ranked athletes nationally include Lynelle Decker of Seattle Pacific, 10th in the 800 (2:12.22), Tayler Fettig of Central Washington in the high jump (5th, 5-9 ¼), and NNU’s Silva (5th) and Cheyanna Pinley of Western Washington (10th, 12-6) in the pole vault.

For more Track and Field information, check out the GNAC Weekly release.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Boise State Team Challenge (Feb. 15 at Nampa): Men (Top 6): 400 – 4. Andrew Curtis, NNU, 50.17.  60 Hurdles – 4. Kyle McLaughlin, NNU, 8.47.  4x400 – 4. Northwest Nazarene 3:30.25.  High Jump – 6. Cole Hoberg, NNU, 1.95 – 6-4 ¾.  Pole Vault – 6. Zach McClanahan, NNU, 4.17 – 13-8 ¼.  Triple Jump – 6. Stephen Larlee, NNU, 13.24 – 43-5 ¼.  Weight Throw – 5. Matt Silva, NNU, 14.76 – 48-5 1.4. Women (Top 6): 1000 – 3. Rebecca Holland, NNU, 3:18.45; 4. Emily Merioles, NNU, 3:32.17.  60 Hurdles – 4. Marie Smith, NNU, 8.99; 6. Hannah Borden, NNU, 9.17.  4x400 Relay – 4. Northwest Nazarene 4:00.76.  Pole Vault – 2. Alison Silva, NNU, 3.85 – 12-7 ½.  Shot Put – 5. Vessie Umu, NNU, 12.98 – 42-7; 6. Jessica Johns, NNU, 12.96 – 42-6 ¼. 

UW Invitational (Feb. 14-15 at Seattle): Men (Top 6): Mile (Early Race) – 2. Travis Vugteveen, SFU, 4:17.52.  Distance Medley – 2. Western Oregon 9:58.43; 3. Simon Fraser 9:58.92; 4. Alaska Anchorage 9:59.67. Triple Jump – 3. Vladislav Moldavanov, SFU, 14.52 – 47-7 ¾.   Shot Put – 6. Frank Catelli, WWU, 16.89 – 55-5. Women (Top 6): 800 – 4. McKayla Fricker, SPU, 2:09.17.  Mile           (Early Race) – 5. Rebecca Bassett, SFU, 5:06.65.  Distance Medley – 4. Alaska Anchorage 11:45.08.

UW Open (Feb. 16, 2014): Men (Top 3): 400 – 2. Adam Commandeur, UAA,, 49.46.  3000 – 1. Dylan Anthony, UAA, 8:20.92.  60 Hurdles – 3. Bernari Sternen, CWU, 8.38.  Pole Vault – 2. Gordon Kordas, WWU, 4.40 – 14—5 ¼.  Triple Jump – 1. Luke Plummer, CWU, 13.72 – 45-0 ¼.  Shot Put – 1. Frank Catelli, WWU, 17.51 – 57-5 ½.  Women (Top 3):60 – 3. Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 7.70.  200 – 1. Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 25.15.  800 – 3. Susan Bick, UAA,, 2:14.97.  3000 – 3. Joyce  Kipchumba, UAA, 9:33.60.  4x400 – 1. Central Washington 4:09.17.  Pole Vault (Morning Session) – 1. Cheyanna Pinley, WWU, 3.81 – 12-6.  Long Jump – 1. Kyra Brannan, SPU, 5.53 – 18-1 ¾ ; 2. Tasia Baldwin, SPU, 5.39 – 17-8 ¼.