Thursday, March 13, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. - Two athletes and four coaches from the GNAC have earned USTFCCCA West Region Athlete and Coach of the Year awards for indoor track-and-field.

Joyce Kipchumba of Alaska Anchorage was selected the West Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and Frank Catelli of Western Washington was selected the West Region Men’s Field Athlete of the Year.

UAA’s Michael Friess and WWU’s PeeWee Halsell were named the West Region Women’s Team and Men’s Team Coaches of the Year, respectively. 

Two UAA assistants were selected the West Region Assistant Coaches of the Year – Ryan McWilliams for women’s teams  and Anthony Tomsich for men’s teams.

Kipchumba has the second fastest 5,000 meter time (16:49.59) and third fastest 3,000 meter time (9:33.60) entering this weekend’s national meet at Winston-Salem, NC.  Catelli takes the ninth best mark in the shot put (57-5 ½) going into the national meet.

Friess, in his 24th season at UAA, led the Seawolves to their second straight women’s indoor team title this winter since the school began sponsoring indoor last year.  UAA is ranked 10^th in the USTFCCCA computer rankings.

McWilliams is in his fourth season.  Two of his athletes qualified for the NCAA meet, seven set school records and 16 reached the NCAA provisional standard.

Tomsich, who is in his first season as an assistant coach (3^rd overall) after competing collegiately at Western Washington, coached Micah Chelimo to the No. 1 time in the 5,000 and the No. 7 time in the 3,000.

Halsell’s regional award is his second straight and third overall.  The WWU mentor is in his 27th season in Bellingham.  His men's team won its second straight GNAC indoor title, setting three meet record and two conference records and winning five events.

STAYING INDOORS

Eighteen athletes, including seven from Alaska Anchorage and five from Western Washington will compete in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships Friday and Saturday at Winston-Salem, NC.

Three of the UAA athletes – Micah Chelimo (men’s 3,000 and 5,000), Joyce Kipchumba (women’s 3,000 and 5,000) and Karolin Anders (pentathlon and high jump) are entered in two individual events.  Chelimo is the top-seed in the men’s 5,000 and the seventh seed in the 3K.  Kipchumba comes into the meet with the No. 2 best time in the women 5K and the No. 3 time in the 3K and Anders has the fifth best point total in the pentathlon.

Chelimo will be joined by three Western Washington athletes – Alex Donigian in the 60, Chip Jackson in the mile and Frank Catelli in the shot put – in the men’s meet.  Donigian is the No. 4 seed in his event.

Athletes from six GNAC schools will compete in the women’s division.  In addition to Kipchumba and Anders, UAA qualified its distance medley relay team of Susan Bick, Haleigh Lloyd, Jessica Pahkala and Ivy O’Guinn.   Northwest Nazarene (Natalie Evans in the 800 and Alison Silva in the pole vault) and Western Washington (Tanya Bjornsson in the long jump and Cheyanna Pinley in the pole vault) each qualified two athletes.  Silva enters the meet with the fifth best mark in her event.

Completing the field from the GNAC are three 800 runners – No. 2 seed Sarah Sawatzky of Simon Fraser, fourth-seed McKayla Fricker of Seattle Pacific and the Falcons’ Lynelle Decker -  and high jumper Tayler Fettig of Central Washington.  Fettig is the No. 6 seed

Fettig (5-9 ¾ in the high jump), Silva (12-10 in the pole vault), Donigian (6.75 in the 60) and  Chelimo (8:10.99 in the 3K and 13:47.73 in the 5K) are the GNAC record-holders in their events. 

MEN: Friday: 3 p.m. – Mile Prelim (11. Chip Jackson, WWU, 4:11.13).  4:10 p.m. – 60 Prelims (4. Alex Donigian, WWU, 6.75). 6:15 p.m. – 5000 (1. Micah Chelimo, UAA, 13:56.59). Saturday:  2:05 p.m. – Shot Put (9. Frank Catelli, WWU, 17.51 – 57-5 ½.  4 p.m. – Mile (Jackson).  4:45 p.m.  - 60 (Donigian). 6:05 p.m. – 3000 (7. Micah Chelimo, UAA, 8:16.69). WOMEN: Friday: 2 p.m. – Long Jump (12. Tanya Bjornsson, WWU, 5.82). 4:50 p.m. – 800 Prelim (2. Sarah Sawatzky, SFU, 2:10.05; 4. McKayla Fricker, SPU, 2:10.53; 9. Natalie Evans, NNU, 2:12.95; 12. Lynelle Decker, SPU, 2:13.49).  6:35 p.m. – 5000 (2. Joyce Kipchumba, UAA, 16:57.37). 7:30 p.m. – Distance Medley Relay (9. Alaska Anchorage 11:52.63 – Susan Bick, Haleigh Lloyd, Jessica Pahkala, Ivy O’Guinn) Saturday:  9 a.m. – Pentathlon (5. Karolin Anders, UAA, 3752). 2:15 p.m. – High Jump (6. Tayler Fettig, CWU, 1.77 – 5-9 ¾; 15. Karolin Anders, UAA, 1.72 – 5-7 ¾). 4:25 p.m. – Pole Vault – 5. Alison Silva, NNU, 3.91 – 12-10; 14. Cheyanna Pinley, WWU, 3.81 – 12-6. 5:10 p.m. – 800 (Sawatzky, Fricker, Evans, Decker). 6:25 p.m.  – 3000 (3. Joyce Kipchumba, UAA, 9:38.54).  Note: Times listed are Eastern Daylight time.

Going Outdoors

While 18 athletes head to North Carolina, other athletes will either concentrate on their winter quarter final exams or head to California, Eugene, Spokane or Nampa for competition.

Alaska Anchorage will send athletes to Eagle Rock, Calif., for the Occidental Distance Carnival and to Fullerton, Calif., for the Ben Brown Invitational.  Western Oregon is scheduled to compete in the Lane CC Preview in Eugene.  Central Washington is entered in the Dusty Lane Open in Spokane.

Meanwhile, Northwest Nazarene will open its outdoor season at Nampa hosting the Northwest Nazarene Combined.

Led by six javelin throwers, GNAC athletes posted nine NCAA qualifying marks last week in outdoor meets at Las Vegas, Corvallis and Tacoma.

UAA’s Franz Burghagen earned an automatic mark in the men’s javelin (216-10) at Las Vegas.  Posting provisional marks were UAA’s Cody Parker  (209-5) as Las Vegas, and WOU’s Shane Brooks (211-7) and Justin Larson (206-5) at Corvallis.

Earning a women’s automatic javelin mark  was WOU’s Seabre Church (155-9) at Corvallis.  Katie Reichert of Western Washington posted a provisional mark of 139-2 at Tacoma.

Also posting PNQs at Las Vegas were Jamie Ashcroft in the women’s 100 (11.84) and 200 (24.27) and Bobo Camara in the men’s 400 hurdles (53.14).

 Ashcroft’s 100 time was a GNAC record and her 200 time ranks third in GNAC history.  Camara’s 400 hurdles time ranks eighth. 

The javelin throws of Brooks and Church rank seventh on the GNAC Men’s and Women’s Top 10 lists, and Larson’s throw ranks ninth. 

Seattle Pacific also had a Top 10 mark at Corvallis in the 4x100 running the fifth fastest time in GNAC history (47.43).

Burghagen and Parker’s national qualifying marks don’t impact the GNAC’s Top 10 lists as both athletes have better career tosses.

LAST WEEK:

BY THE NUMBERS

GNAC ALL-TIME TOP 10 OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES (for March 3-9):  Men: 400 Hurdles – 8. Bobo Camara, UAA, 53.14.   Javelin – 7. Shane Brooks, WOU, 64.49 – 211-7; 9. Justin Larson, WOU, 62.91 – 206-5. Note:  UAA’s Franz Burghagen and Cody Parker had javelin throws of 216-10 and 209-5 at Las Vegas, but have better career marks.  WOMEN: 100 – 1. Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 11.84.  200 – 3. Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 24.27. 4x100 Relay – 5. Seattle Pacific 47.43. Javelin – 7. Seabre Church, WOU, 47.48 – 155-9. 

LAST WEEK’S NCAA OUTDOOR QUALIFIERS (for March 3-9): Men: 400 Hurdles – Bobo Camara, UAA, 53.14.  Javelin – Franz Burghagen, UAA, 66.10 – 216-10; Shane Brooks, WOU, 64.49 – 211-7; Cody Parker, UAA, 63.83 – 209-5; Justin Larson, WOU, 62.91 – 206-5.  Women: 100 – Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 11.84.  200 – Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 24.27.  Javelin – Seabre Church, WOU, 47.48 – 155-9; Katie Reichert, WWU, 42.43 – 139-2.

Pacific Lutheran Invitational (March 8 at Tacoma): Men (GNAC Winners): 200 – Harish Prasad, CWU, 22.65.  400 – Chayce Sather, CWU, 51.06.  800 – Cody McCranie, WWU, 1:56.98.  10,000 – Joe Berger, SMU, 31:52.77.  4x400 Relay – Central Washington 3:25.20.  110 Hurdles – Bernari Sternen, CWU, 14.96.   400 Hurdles – Kennedy Sarmiento, CWU, 58.23.  High Jump – Justin Peterson, CWU, 1.90 – 6-2 ¾.  Long Jump – Ty Sissel, SMU, 5.73 – 18-9 1/2. Triple Jump – Luke Plummer, CWU, 13.44 – 44-1.  Women (GNAC Winners): 200 – Ashley Harmon, CWU, 26.56.  5000 – Dani Eggleston, CWU, 18:02.63.  10,000 – Connie Morgan, CWU, 38:31.48.  100 Hurdles – Allison Deck, CWU, 15.84.  400 Hurdles – Chelsea Genther, CWU, 1:07.91.  4x400 Relay – Central Washington 4:05.82.  Triple Jump – Marinah Bentley, CWU, 10.03 – 32-11 1/2.  Hammer – Angel Rodgers, SMU, 44.13 – 144-9.   Javelin – Katie Reichert, WWU, 42.43 – 139-2.

UNLV Track Classic (March 8 at Las Vegas): Men (Top 3): Men (Top 3): 400 – 1. Ethan Hewitt, UAA, 48.28; 3. Adam Commandeur, UAA, 49.44.  800 – 3. Isaac Kangogo, UAA, 1:56.12.  1500 – 2. Isaac Kangogo, UAA, 3:54.36. 4x400 Relay – 1. Alaska Anchorage 3:20.10. 110 Hurdles – 1. Bobo Camara, UAA, 15.07; 2. Cody Thomas, UAA, 15.09; 3. Travis Wilson, UAA, 15.83. 400 Hurdles – 1. Bobo Camara, UAA, 53.14; 2. Elliott Bauer, UAA, 54.66; 3. Travis Wilson, UAA, 56.42. Long Jump – 2. Cody Thomas, UAA, 6.84 – 22-5 ¼; 3. Tevin Gladden, UAA, 6.66 – 21-10 ¼. Shot Put – 3. Tim Dommek, UAA, 13.63 – 44-8 ¾.  Javelin – 1. Franz Burghagen, UAA, 66.10 – 216-10; 2. Cody Parker, UAA, 63.83 – 209-5.  Women (Top 3): 100 – 1. Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 11.84; 3. Makenzie Harsch, UAA, 12.30.  200 – Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 24.27.   Long Jump – 3. Rosie Smith, UAA, 5.20 – 17-0 ¾.

Oregon State Invitational (March 8 at Corvallis): Men (GNAC Winners): 100 – Jeff Howard, WOU, 10.95. 110 Hurdles – Kody Rhodes, WOU, 14.93. Javelin – Shane Brooks, WOU, 64.49 – 211-7.   Women (GNAC Winners): 100 Hurdles – Rochelle Pappel, WOU, 14.95. 400 – Kishia Mitchell, SPU, 57.09. 4x100 Relay – Seattle Pacific 47.43. 4x400 Relay – Western Oregon 4:01.45. Shot Put – Emmi Collier, WOU, 13.02 – 42-8 ¾ .  Javelin – Seabre Church, WOU, 47.48 – 155-9.

GNAC RED LION ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

MEN: Track – Bobo Camara, Alaska Anchorage (So., Cologne, Germany) won the 400 hurdles in a provisional national qualifying time of 53.14 at the UNLV Track Classic.  His time ranks eighth in GNAC history.  He also won the 110 hurdles in a GNAC automatic qualifying time of 15.07.  Field – Franz Burghagen, Alaska Anchorage (Jr., Berlin, Germany) automatically qualified for the NCAA national meet in the javelin, finishing first at Las Vegas with a throw of 216-10. 

HONORABLE MENTION: Shane Brooks, Western Oregon (So., Pleasant Hill, OR) won the javelin at the Oregon State Invitational with a provisional national qualifying throw of 211-7.  That throws ranks second in the GNAC this season and seventh all-time ... Kody Rhodes, Western Oregon (Sr., Wilsonville, OR) won the 110 meters at the OSU Invitational in a GNAC season-best time of 14.95

WOMEN:  Track – Jamie Ashcroft, Alaska Anchorage (Fr., Shawnigan Lake, BC) had two of the fastest sprint times in GNAC history at the UNLV Track Classic.  She won the 100 meters in a GNAC-record time of 11.84, then finished sixth in the 200 in a time of 24.27.  The latter time was the third quickest in GNAC history.  Both marks provisionally qualified her for the NCAA national meet in May.  Field – Seabre Church, Western Oregon (Sr., Florence, OR - Siuslaw) won the javelin at the Oregon State Invitational with an automatic national qualifying mark of 155-9.  That toss ranks second in WOU school history and is seventh on the GNAC All-Time Top 10 list.  She joins Bethany Drake of Western Washington (156-11) as automatic qualifiers for the NCAA national meet. 

HONORABLE MENTION: Rochelle Pappel, Western Oregon (So., Venata, OR – Churchill) won the 100-meter hurdles at Oregon State in a time of 14.95.  That currently ranks second in the GNAC in the young spring season ... Katie Reichert, Western Washington (So., Longview, WA – Kelso) posted a provisional national qualifying mark of 139-2 in winning the javelin at the Pacific Lutheran University Invitational.

For more GNAC Track & Field News, check out the GNAC Weekly Report.