Wednesday, April 2, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. - GNAC athletes head to the Bay Area in California, Bozeman, Mont., Tacoma and Bellingham this weekend as the April portion of the outdoor track-and-field season gets underway.

The action begins Thursday in Bellingham with the Western Washington University Multi-Events.  Central Washington, British Columbia and Olympic CC will join the host Vikings in the two-day competition.

On Friday, Alaska Anchorage, Northwest Nazarene, Simon Fraser and Central Washington have athletes in the San Francisco State Invitational.  They'll be joined Saturday at the Stanford Invitational by Seattle Pacific.

Meanwhile, five schools - Central Washington, Saint Martin's, Seattle Pacific, Simon Fraser and Western Washington - will be represented in the Puget Sound Shotwell Invitational in Tacoma.  Montana State Billings will stay in their home state to compete in the Montana State Invitational in Bozeman.

Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington each begin the week with their teams ranked in the USTFCCCA Division II National team computer rankings. 

The UAA men are ranked 10th and the Seawolf women are ranked 20th.  Western Washington’s men are ranked 23rd and its women are ranked 14th.

Though UAA’s men are 13 spots higher than WWU in the national rankings, the Vikings (3rd) one spot higher than UAA (4th) in the men’s regional rankings.

This likely indicates UAA has more point potential for the national meet, but WWU has more point potential at the conference/regional level according to the computer. In the women’s regional rankings, UAA is third and Western Washington is fifth.

Reichert Maintains No. 1 Ranking in Javelin

Katie Reichert of Western Washington maintained her No. 1 NCAA Division II national ranking in the women’s javelin in this week’s TFRRS rankings.  She has a best of 162-1. 

The top three women’s javelin throwers are GNAC athletes including WWU’s Bethany Drake (157-10) and Western Oregon’s Seabre Church (155-9).

Drake is one of four GNAC athletes ranked second nationally in their events.  Isaac Kangogo of Alaska Anchorage ranks second in the men’s 1500 (3:49.60) and UAA’s Franz Burghagen is second in the javelin(216-10).  

On the women’s side Drake and McKayla Fricker of Seattle Pacific hold No. 2 rankings.  Fricker is second in the 800 with a best if 2:08.00.

BY THE NUMBERS

GNAC ALL-TIME TOP 10 OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES (for March 24-30):  Men: None.   WOMEN: None.

LAST WEEK’S NCAA OUTDOOR QUALIFIERS (for March 24-30): Men: 5000 – Brady Beagley, WOU, 14:35.37.   WOMEN: 800 - Jessica Pahkala, UAA, 2:13.28. Hammer – Lindsay Wells, WWU, 52.15 – 171-1.  Javelin – Michaela Farner, SPU, 40.72 – 133-7. (Note: All performances at Willamette except Wells’ hammer mark and Farner’s javelin mark which were recorded at CNW Spring Break Open).

CURRENT TOP 10 NATIONAL LEADERS (though Mar. 30): Men:  1500 – 2. Isaac Kangogo, UAA, 3:49.60; 4. Brady Beagley, WOU, 3:50.72. 5000 – 8. Brady Beagley, WOU, 14:35.37; 9. Dylan Anthony, UAA, 14:35.73.  4x400 Relay – 9. Alaska Anchorage 3:13.70.  Shot Put –  4. Frank Catelli, WWU, 17.43 – 57-2 ¼.  Discus – 4. Frank Catelli, WWU, 50.40 – 165-4.  Javelin – 2. Franz Burghagen, UAA, 66.10 – 216-10; 4. Shane Brooks, WOU, 64.49 – 211-7; 8. Cody Parker, UAA, 63.83 – 209-5; 9. Justin Larson, WOU, 62.91 – 206-5.  WOMEN: 100 –  6. Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 11.84.  200 – 6. Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 24.27. 800 – 2. McKayla Fricker, SPU, 2:08.00; 9. Jessica Pahkala, UAA, 2:13.28.  4x100 Relay – 8. Alaska Anchorage 47.11. Hammer – 10. Lindsay Wells, WWU, 52.15 -  171-1.  Javelin – 1. Katie Reichert, WWU, 49.40 – 162-1; 2. Bethany Drake, WWU, 48.11 – 157-10; 3. Seabre Church, WOU, 47.48 – 155-9.

LAST WEEK'S GNAC RED LION ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

MEN: Track – Brady Beagley, Western Oregon (Sr., Grants Pass, OR – North Valley) placed fifth in the 5,000 meters at the Willamette Invitational in a provisional national qualifying time of 14:35.37.  That time currently ranks eighth in Division II.  It also is the third best in WOU school history.  He also currently ranks fourth nationally in the 1,500 meter.  Field – Anthony Montanez, MSU Billings (So., Lovell, WY) had a  throw of 160-11 in the hammer, breaking the Yellowjacket school record by 23 feet.  His mark was the longest by a non-Division I athlete in the University of Montana Al Manuel Invitational.

WOMEN: Track – Katelyn Steen, Western Washington (Jr., Sammamish, WA - Eastlake) won the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Club Northwest Spring Break Open in a provisional national qualifying time of 10:54.78.  Her time is nearly half a minute quicker than anyone else in the conference this spring.  Field -  Lindsay Wells, Western Washington (Sr., Seattle, WA – Nathan Hale) finished first in the Spring Break Open in the hammer in a PNQ of 171-1.  That’s 13 feet farther than anyone else has thrown the implement this spring. 

HONORABLE MENTION: Jessica Pahkala, Alaska Anchorage (So., Wasilla, AK) finished second in the 800 meters in the Willamette Invitational in a provisional national qualifying time of 2:13.28.  The mark currently ranks ninth in NCAA Division II this spring ...  Michaela Farner, Seattle Pacific (Jr., Molalla, OR) won the javelin at the Club Northwest Spring Break Open with a provisional national qualifying mark of 133-7.  She is the sixth different GNAC athlete to post a PNQ in the event this spring.  Her mark currently ranks fifth in the GNAC and 20th in Division II.

MEET SUMMARIES

Montana Invitational (March 29 at Missoula): Men (Top 5): 100 – 5. Tyler DiGiovanna, MSUB, 11.40.  400 – 4. Nathan Vanderby, MSUB, 50.11.  5000 – 5. Robert Peterson, MSUB, 15:19.99. 4x100 Relay – 3. MSU Billings 43.96.  4x400 Relay – 4. MSU Billings 3:28.65. Women (Top 5): Steeplechase – 5. Mary Owen, MSUB, 12:43.10.  100 Hurdles – 5. Hope Reid, MSUB, 15.94.  4x400 Relay – 4. MSU Billings 50.73.  4x400 – 2. MSU Billings 4:29.92.  Discus – 5. Corrie Holm, MSUB, 40.67 – 133-5.

UPS Peyton Scoring (March 29 at Tacoma): Men – Whitworth 184, Pacific Lutheran 158, Puget Sound 122 ½, Pacific 93, Saint Martin’s 71, Whitman 20, Olympic 18 ½, Tacoma City RC 5. Individuals (Top 3): 1500 – 1. Frank Krause, SMU, 4:04.22; 2. Joe Berger, SMU, 4:05.49. Steeplechase – 3. Jasper Heckman, SMU, 10:36.91.  4x400 – 2. Saint Martin’s 3:31.15.  Pole Vault – 2. Joseph Keeton, SMU, 4.23 – 13-10 ½. Javelin – 3. Brian Chalkey, SMY, 54.79 – 179-9.   Women – Whitworth 194, Pacific Lutheran 181, Puget Sound 156 ½, Saint Martin’s 49, Pacific 20 ½, Christ Life 20, Central Washington 8, Tacoma City RC 5, Whitman 4, Olympic 2. Individuals (Top 3): 100 Hurdles – 2. Tayler Fettig, CWU, 15.31.  Steeplechase – 2. Justine Malek, SMU, 13:16.50.  Long Jump – 1. Renee Hudson, SMU, 4.94 – 16-2 ½.

CNW Spring Break (March 29 at West Seattle): Men (GNAC Winners): 100 – Harish Prasad, CWU, 11.15.  200 – Harish Prasad, CWU, 22.34.  400 – Nathaniel Schmidt, WWU, 49.92.  1500 – Cody McCranie, WWU, 4:01.42.  110 Hurdles – Travis Milbrandt, WWU, 15.19.  400 Hurdles - Jade Wilson, WWU, 56.81. 4x100 Relay – Western Washington 43.37.  Pole Vault – Gordon Kordas, WWU, 4.11 - 13-5 ¾. Long Jump – Nathaniel van Tuinen, WWU, 6.69 – 21-11 1/2. High Jump - Logan Myers, WWU, 2.00 - 6-6 3/4. Shot Put – Frank Catelli, WWU, 16.53 – 54-2 ¾.  Discus – Frank Catelli, WWU, 46.72 - 153-3.   Women (GNAC Winners): 100 – Kishia Mitchell, SPU, 12.51.  200 – Cheryl Hong, SPU, 26.16.  800 – Lynelle Decker, SPU, 2:15.81.  1500 – Sarah Macdonald, SPU, 4:49.20.  3000 – Claire Rachwitz, SPU, 10:49.70.  100 Hurdles – Allison Deck, CWU, 15.9.  400 Hurdles – Miranda Lahman, WWU, 1:06.47.  Steeplechase – Katelyn Steen, WWU, 10:54.78.  4x100 Relay – Seattle Pacific 48.42.  High Jump – Miranda Osadchey, WWU, 1.50 – 4-11.  Pole Vault – Madi Webster, SPU, 3.05 – 10-0.  Long Jump – Kyra Brannan, SPU, 5.33 - 17-6. Triple Jump – Jasmine McMullin, WWU, 10.24 – 33-7 ¼.  Shot Put – Megan Mortensen, WWU, 12.37 – 40-7.  Discus – Maggie Roe, WWU, 40.32 – 132-3.  Hammer – Lindsay Wells, WWU, 52.15 – 171-1. Javelin – Michaela Farner, SPU, 40.72 - 133-7.

Willamette Invitational (March 29 at Salem): Men (GNAC Winners): 200 – Tyrell Williams, WOU, 21.89.  400 – Ethan Hewitt, UAA, 48.78.  110 Hurdles – Brett Campbell, WOU, 15.37.  Women (GNAC Winners): 100 – Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 11.91.  200 – Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 24.71.  100 Hurdles – Rosie Smith, UAA, 14.65.  400 Hurdles – Rosie Smith, UAA, 1:05.33.  Steeplechase – Bryn Haebe, UAA, 11:22.50.  4x400 Relay – Alaska Anchorage (Sasha Halfyard, Susan Bick, Jessica  Pahkala, Hayley Bezanson) 3:57.00.  Shot Put – Emmi Collier, WOU, 13.06 – 42-10 ¼.   Hammer - Alyssa Taylor, WOU, 37.91 – 124-4.

Mt. Hood Multi-Events (Mar. 27-28 at Gresham): Decathlon – 2. Eric Gaines, WOU, 5717; 3. David Durden, SMU, 5620; 7. Michael Holland, WOU, 5127. Heptathlon – 2. Irene Moore, SMU, 3985; 4. Emily Moe, WOU, 3294.

University of Miami Invitational (March 29 at Coral Gables, Fla.): Women: 400 Hurdles – 4. Amber Dodd, WWU, 1:04.35.

Colorado Front Range Open (March 29 at Golden): Men: 5000 - 8. Andrew Wise, WWU, 15:58.20.  Women: 200 - 10. Sydney Coffey, WWU, 26.40.  400 - 1. Sydney Coffey, WWU, 57.66.

UBC Open (March 30 at Vancouver): Men (SFU Winners): 200 – Joel Webster, SFU, 22.02.  400 – Stuart Ellenwood, SFU, 50.82.  Triple Jump – Ella Brown, SFU, 11.57 – 37-11 ½.

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