Wednesday, January 25, 2017

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

For the second week in a row, Zook broke his own school record in the 60 meters, placing sixth in the event at the Air Force Invitational in a time of 6.90 seconds. The time is second best in the GNAC this season and No. 8 in GNAC history.

Also Nominated: Logan Blake (Northwest Nazarene).

MEN’S FIELD
Cole Hoberg, Northwest Nazarene
Senior • Pririe City, Ore.

Hoberg was one of two GNAC athletes this week to set a school record in the men’s high jump. Hoberg won the high jump at the Bronco Invitational with a clearance of 6 feet, 9.75 inches. In addition to the school record, Hoberg claimed a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and tied for the fourth best mark in GNAC history. Hoberg’s performance ties him for seventh in the GNAC this season.

Also Nominated: Chuck Carr (Montana State Billings), Jared Webster (Northwest Nazarene), James Phillips (Concordia).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Ali Anderson, Central Washington
Junior • Camano Island, Wash.

Anderson ran the fastest time in the GNAC this season in the 800 meters, placing second in the third section at the WSU Open in a time of 2:15.99. The performance is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and is the 12th best in Division II this season. Anderson, a multi-event specialist, also tied for second in her flight of the long jump with a mark of 17 feet, 4.5 inches.

Also Nominated: Lexi Tubbs (Northwest Nazarene).

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

Warren finished just two centimeters short of the NCAA Division II record in the shot put, winning the event at the Bronco Invitational with a mark of 57 feet, 7 inches. The performance is also a GNAC record. Warren won the event, which was dominated by Division I competition, by eight feet. Warren also placed third in the weight throw with a mark of 54 feet, 1 inches.

Also Nominated: Michaela Johnson (Montana State Billings), Kawena Warren (Northwest Nazarene).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage did not compete last weekend. The Seawolves return to action this weekend at the UW Invitational in Seattle. The Seawolves opened their 2017 indoor track schedule at the UW Preview on Jan. 14.

• Senior Joe Day currently owns the fifth fastest time in Division II this season in the men’s 800 meters, having run 1:52.07 at the UW Preview.

• Senior Dominik Notz opened the year by placing 11th in the competitive third section of the men’s 3,000 meters at the UW Preview. His time of 8:14.19 is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and sixth fastest in Division II this season.

• The Seawolves have two provisional qualifiers in the 400 meters. Senior Adam Commandeur ran 48.60 seconds in the men’s 400 at the UW Preview, which is 23rd best in Division II. Senior Mary Kathleen Cross is 16th in Division II after she ran 56.86 seconds in the women’s 400.

• Senior Jamie Ashcroft leads the GNAC and is 17th in Division II in the women’s 200 meters after running a time of 25.02 seconds at the UW Preview. She also ran 7.74 seconds in the preliminaries of the 60 meters, the second best time in the conference to date.

• Sophomore Danielle McCormick is No. 2 in the GNAC in the women’s 800 meters after running a time of 2:15.68 at the UW Preview. Junior Tamara Perez is third, having run a time of 2:16.63.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• In their first full squad meet of the season, Central Washington posted three GNAC season bests and a pair of provisional qualifiers at the WSU Open in Pullman, Wash.

• Junior Ali Anderson was named the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she hit a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the 800 meters. Her time of 2:15.99 leads the GNAC and is 12th in Division II. Anderson also placed second in her flight of the long jump with a mark of 17 feet, 4.5 inches.

• Sophomore Mariyah Vongsaveng notched a provisional qualifier in the 60-meter hurdles, placing second in a time of 8.98 seconds. The time is tops in the GNAC this season and ties her for 25th in Division II.

• Senior Armando Tafoya posted the GNAC’s top mark this season in men’s weight throw, placing fourth in his flight with a mark of 54 feet, 1.25 inches. Tafoya also placed third in his section of the shot put. His mark of 49 feet, 7.75 inches is second best in the GNAC.

• Event winners at the WSU Open include sophomore Alexa Shindruk in the women’s 3,000 meters (10:34.51) and the men’s 4x400-meter relay (3:32.75). Stephanie Rexus placed second in the women’s 3,000 in 10:38.71.

• The Wildcats also received section victories from sophomore Aujanique Doss in the women’s 200 meters (26.79), sophomore Julia Inderbitzin in the women’s 400 (1:01.92) and junior Aiyana Homer in the women’s shot put (41-1.75).

• Central Washington is back on the track this weekend, takign part in the UW Invitational.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia notched three GNAC bests and a near Division II record at the Bronco Invitational in Nampa, Idaho.

• Senior McKenzie Warren was named the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week and USTFCCCA Women’s Indoor Athlete of the Week for the second straight week after a near national record performance. Warren won the shot put with a mark of 57 feet, 7 inches (17.55m). The performance just missed the NCAA Division II record of 17.57m set by Andriane Blewitt of Ashland in 2003. The mark is also third best in all NCAA divisions this season. Warren also placed third in the weight throw with a mark of 54 feet, 1 inch, second best this in the GNAC in 2017.

• Senior Christina MacDonald improved her GNAC best in the women’s weight throw, placing second with a mark of 56 feet, 1 inch. The mark is No. 4 in GNAC history and 23rd in Division II this season.

• The Cavaliers took the top-two spots in the women’s triple jump. Senior Rachel Siltman took the GNAC lead iwith a mark of 37 feet, 5.75 inches. The mark placed third in the competition. Freshman Chase Stephens placed fourth in the competition and is second in the GNAC with a mark of 37 feet, 5.75 inches.

• Freshman Adam Brown posted the GNAC’s third best mark in the men’s 400 meters, tying for fourth place with a time of 22.26 seconds.

• Concordia will be among the eight teams from the GNAC competing at the UW Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Seattle.

• Concordia is in the third year of its transition to Division II member. As such, the Cavaliers are not eligible to compete at the NCAA Championships.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Yellowjackets’ athletes broke three school records and hit a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier in a pair of meets over the weekend.

• Junior Sam Zook broke the MSUB record in the men’s 60 meters for the second straight week, placing sixth at the Air Force Invitational in a time of 6.90 seconds. The time is also second best in the GNAC this season and eighth best in conference history. The performance earned Zook selection as the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week.

• Freshman Chuck Carr set the MSUB record in the men’s high jump in just his second collegiate meet. Carr placed second in the event at the Dave Little Alumni Mile, clearing 6 feet, 8 inches. The performance is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier, is second best in the GNAC this season and the 10th best in GNAC history.

• Freshman Michaela Johnson broke school record in the women’s 60 meters as she clocked a time of 9.15 seconds at the Dave Little Alumni Mile, besting the previous mark of 9.31 set by Hope Reid in 2015.

• Zook was among three MSUB athletes to travel to the Division I-laden Air Force Invitational. Senior Austin Lindquist placed sixth in the men’s long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 10.25 inches, while junior Nels Flanagan placed 11th in the men’s shot put with a mark of 41 feet, 8.75 inches.

• Sophomore Josey Smiedala won the women’s 400 meters at the Dave Little Alumni Mile with a time of 1:01.60. Freshman Brenna Beckett placed second in both the women’s long jump (15-6.25) and the triple jump (34-4) and freshman Jamie Orme placed second in the high jump (5-0.25). Senior Garrett Love placed second in the men’s 3,000 meters in a time of 8:58.87.

• The Yellowjackets are off this weekend. They will compete next at the Conglomerate Open on Feb. 3 and 4 in Gillette, Wyo.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Senior Cole Hoberg’s school record performance in the men’s high jump highlighted a solid performance for Northwest Nazarene at the Bronco Invitational in Nampa, Idaho.

• Hoberg was named GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he won the high jump with a NNU school record mark of 6 feet, 9.75 inches. The mark is second best in the GNAC this season and ties for fourth in GNAC history. It is also a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark and ties him for seventh in Division II this season.

• Junior Jared Webster improved his season best mark in the men’s pole vault, placing third with a mark of 15 feet, 9 inches. Webster is currently tied for 16th in Division II this season. Senior Zach McClanahan placed fourth with a mark of 15 feet, 3 inches.

• Junior Lexi Tubbs was the third fastest qualifier in the women’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.89 seconds, but did not compete in the finals. Senior Taylor Deskins placed sixth in the 60 meters with a time of 7.96 seconds and ran 7.92 in her preliminary heat.

• Junior Payton Lewis had a solid double, placing second in the men’s pole vault with a mark of 16 feet, 2.75 inches, and finished sixth in the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.51 seconds (8.40 seconds in the preliminaries). Lewis currently ranks fifth in Division II in the pole vault with a clearance of 16 feet, 6.75 inches at December’s Jackson’s Open.

• The Crusaders will have the weekend off. They return to the Jackson’s Indoor Center on Feb. 3 and 4, participating in the Jackson’s Invitational.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s did not compete last weekend. The Saints return to the track this weekend at the UW Invitational.

• Senior Mikel Smith enters the week with the second best mark in Division II in the men’s high jump. His mark of 7 feet, 0.25 inches, cleared at the December Jackson’s Open, was a quarter inch off of his own GNAC record.

• Sophomore Jackson Hand owns the conference’s best mark in the men’s 200 meters, having run 21.94 seconds at the Jackson’s Open. He is just short of the NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 21.83 seconds. Senior David Durden is third in the GNAC in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with his time of 8.47 seconds at the Jackson’s Open.

• Senior Shannon Porter enters the weekend sixth in the GNAC in the women’s 3,000 meters. She opened the indoor season by running a time of 10:05.52 at the Vandal Invitational, which is two seconds off the NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

• Senior Kirby Neale has the third best mark in the GNAC in the women’s weight throw, having netted a mark of 52 feet, 10.75 inches at the Vandal Invitational.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific did not compete last weekend and return to competition in their hometown on Friday and Saturday at the UW Invitational.

• Junior Mary Charleson enters the meet with NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks in both the women’s mile and 3,000 meters. Charleson’s time of 9:48.85 in the 3,000 meters is seventh in Division II this season while her time of 4:58.95 in the mile is 13th. Senior Sarah Macdonald also holds a provisional mark in the 3,000 meters. Her time of 10:00.86 is 21st in Division II.

• Sophomore Geneva Lehnert is tied for 25th in Division II in the women’s high jump. She cleared 5 feet, 5 inches in the UW Preview on Jan. 14. Senior Kyra Brannan is tied for 22nd in the women’s long jump with her mark of 18 feet, 6.5 inches.

• Freshman Lani Taylor is fourth in the GNAC in the women’s 400 meters with a time of 57.91 seconds while senior Cheryl Hong is fifth in 58.76 seconds. Senior Becca Houk enters with the fifth best time in the GNAC in the women’s 60 meters with a time of 7.96 seconds.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser took the weekend off from competition. The Clan returns to the track on Friday and Saturday at the UW Invitational.

• Senior Chantel Desch led SFU’s NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers at the Jan. 14 UW Preview, placing second in her section of the women’s 400 meters in a time of 56.70 seconds. The time leads the GNAC and is ninth in Division II this season.

• Senior Daniel Kelloway leads the GNAC in the men’s 400 meters. He placed second in his section with a time of 48.46 seconds, which is 15th in Division II.

• In the distances, senior Marc-Antoine Rouleau ran the 15th fastest time in Division II this season in the men’s 3,000 in 8:24.01. Junior Julia Howley has the 15th best time in the women’s 3,000 as she ran 9:58.27.

• Freshman Katherine Lucas owns the GNAC’s fastest time in the women’s 60 meters, running 7.72 seconds in her first collegiate meet. The time is also seventh fastest in GNAC history. Lucas is also second in the 200 meterd with her time of 25.24 seconds.

• Junior Paige Nock sits No. 3 in the GNAC in the women’s mile with a time of 5:05.41. Freshman Diana Voloshin is second in the women’s 60-meter hurdles with her time of 8.86 seconds.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon did not compete last weekend. The Wolves return to competition this weekend at the UW Invitational.

• Junior Josh Dempsey enters the week No. 3 in Division II in the men’s 800 meters with his time of 1:51.35 in the UW Preview. The time also ranks No. 4 in GNAC history.

• Junior David Ribich owns the fifth fastest time this season in Division II in the men’s 3,000 meters with his time of 8:13.94 at the UW Preview. The time also ranks as the fifth fastest time in GNAC history.

• Senior Kennedy Rufener leads the way for WOU women’s distances. Her time of 10:21.89 in the 3,000 meters is 10th best in the GNAC.

• Western Oregon’s men’s 4x400-meter relay enters the week second in the GNAC with a time of 3:23.25.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington sat out of competition last weekend. The Vikings return to Seattle on Friday and Saturday to compete at the UW Invitational.

• The Vikings emerged with three NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers at the UW Preview. Senior Brittany Grant got off to a strong start with her time of 9:56.22 in the women’s 3,000 meters. The NCAA provosional qualifying performance is second best in the GNAC this season and 11th in Division II.

• Sophomore Anna Paradee notched a NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the women’s pole vault. She cleared 12 feet, 0.75 inches, which ranks 11th in Division II this season.

• Senior Andrew Wise also earned a provisional qualifying mark in the men’s 3,000 meters. His time of 8:23.18 is third in the GNAC and 14th in Division II.

• Junior Brandon Pless leads the GNAC in the men’s shot put with a mark of 50 feet, 5.25 inches, at the UW Preview. His mark of 53 feet, 11.25 inches in the weight throw is second best in the GNAC.

• Senior Megan Mortensen had the second best performance in school history in the women’s weight throw with her distance of 48 feet, 6.25. She was just two inches shy of the school record. Sophomore Sophia Roberts had the third best performance in school history in the event at 42 feet, 7 inches.