Wednesday, March 29, 2017

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

Zook won both the 100 meters and 200 meters at the Bobcat Invitational in school record times. He ran 10.68 seconds in the 100, breaking the previous MSUB record of 10.87, and moved into No. 10 on the GNAC All-Time List. He then won the 200 meters in 21.61 seconds to better the former school record of 21.74 seconds.

Also Nominated: AJ Holmberg (Western Oregon), Isaac Derline (Western Washington), Jared Seckel (Concordia).

MEN’S FIELD
Brandon Pless, Western Washington
Senior • Sedro-Woolley, Wash.

Pless posted an outdoor personal best and a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the shot put at the Doris Heritage Distance Festival, finishing second with a mark 52 feet, 5.5 inches. The performance ranks fifth on the WWU top-10 list and also places him No. 10 on the GNAC All-Time List.

Also Nominated: Alani Troutman (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Valda Kabia, Simon Fraser
Sophomore • Surrey, B.C.

Kabia won both the 100 meters and 200 meters at the Achilles Cup in a pair of GNAC-leading times. She captured the 100 meters in 12.21 seconds and took the 200 meters in 24.78 seconds. The performances helped lead the Clan to a 67-51 win over British Columbia in the annual dual meet between the two schools.

Also Nominated: Grayson Burke (Western Oregon), Katelyn Eastburn (Montana State Billings), Brittany Grant (Western Washington), Lexi Tubbs (Northwest Nazarene).

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

Warren added two more feet to her GNAC record in the women’s shot put, winning the Willamette Invitational with a mark of 56 feet, 7.5 inches. The mark is the fifth best in Division II history. She also won the hammer with a mark of 175 feet, 6.25 inches, and placed second in the discus with a mark of 157 feet, 1 inch, that improves her to No. 3 on the GNAC All-Time List.

Also Nominated: Amanda Short (Western Oregon), Anna Paradee (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage received a school record performance from junior Grant George in the men’s shot put to lead efforts at the Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore.

• George finished second in the event with a mark of 49 feet, 10.5 inches. That bettered his previous record mark of 48 feet, 2.75 inches, and currently ranks third in the GNAC.

• Sophomore Danielle McCormick was a winner in the women’s 800 meters in a time of 2:15.41, which ranks fifth in the GNAC this season. Senior Hayley Bezanson was third in 2:18.24. Freshman Jordyn Block won the women’s steeplechase in a time of 11:33.55.

• In the men’s sprints, junior Darrion Gray placed second in the 200 meters in 22.34 seconds and senior Joe Day placed second in the 800 meters in 1:53.35.

• Both men’s relay teams were winners at Willamette. The 4x100-meter relay team finished with a winning time of 42.37 seconds and the 4x400-meter relay team won in a time of 3:18.74. The women’s 4x100-meter relay team also won with a time of 47.40 seconds.

• To date, Alaska Anchorage has had four athletes set NCAA Championships qualifying marks in five events. Senior Karolin Anders has two of those marks, including an automatic qualifying mark in the heptathlon (5,180 points).

• The Seawolves be in the Bay Area this weekend taking part in both the Stanford Invitational and the San Francisco State Distance Carnival.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington was in split squad mode, sending athletes to both the Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore., and the Doris Heritage Distance Festival in Seattle.

• Freshman Erykah Weems was the Wildcats’ top performer at Willamette as she placed second in both hurdles events. She ran 14.88 in the 100-meter hurdles, ranking her third in the GNAC this season. Her time of 1:03.23 in the 400-merer hurdles is second best in the league.

• The Wildcats’ other notable performances in Salem came in the distances. Sophomore Alexa Shindruk was sixth in the women’s 5,000 meters with a time of 17:31.40, the third best time in the GNAC this season. Senior Stephanie Rexus placed second in the B section of the women’s 1,500 meters with a time of 4:50.32.

• In Seattle, senior Kodiak Landis was a winner in the 200 meters as he ran a time of 22.38 seconds, a time that ranks fourth in the GNAC this season.

• The Wildcats also took two of the top three spots in the men’s javelin in Seattle. Freshman Tyree Rutter took the event with a mark of 185 feet, 11 inches, while Griffey Lytle was third at 183 feet, 7 inches.

• Central Washington enters the week with three NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers. Sophomore Mariyah Vongsaveng is tied for eighth in Division II in the women’s 100-meter hurdles (14.26 seconds). Senior McKenna Emmert is tied for 13th in the women’s pole vault (11-11.75) while senior Armando Tafoya is 25th in the hammer (180-8).

• Central Washington will head south this weekend to compete at the Stanford Invitational and the San Francisco Distance Carnival.

CONCORDIA
• The throws once again led the day for Concordia as the Cavaliers competed at the Willamette Invitational.

• Senior McKenzie Warren broke her own GNAC record in the women’s shot put, winning the event by over nine feet with a mark of 56 feet, 7.75 inches. She also won the hammer with a mark of 175 feet, 6.25 inches, and placed second in the discus with a mark of 157 feet, 1 inch. The performance earned Warren selection as GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week and USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Athlete of the Week.

• Freshman Jakob Chamberlin won both the men’s discus and hammer. He finished just short of a season best in the discus with a mark of 164 feet, 9.75 inches and his mark of 175 feet, 8 inches in the hammer is sixth best in the GNAC. The freshman currently has the ninth best mark in Division II in the discus.

• Sophomore Tori Johnson won the women’s high jump with a clearance of 5 feet, 6 inches, which ties her for ninth in Division II this season.

• Freshman Andrey Gamza was a top-three finisher in both men’s hurdles events, placing second in the 110-meter hurdles in 15.20 seconds and third in the 400-meter hurdles in 57.50 seconds.

• The Concordia women slipped five spots to No. 13 in the USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Computer Rankings. The Cavaliers’ women are ranked seventh in the West Region and the men are ranked 10th.

• Concordia will stay close to home this weekend, competing at the Linfield Jen Boyman Memorial Invitational on Saturday in McMinnville, Ore.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings received a number of top-three finishes in a virtual dual meet between the Yellowjackets and Montana State at the Bobcat Invitational in Bozeman, Mont.

• Junior Sam Zook was a winner in men’s 100 meters and 200 meters, both in school record times. He won the 100 in a time of 10.68 seconds and then won the 200 meters in a time of 21.61 seconds. Zook now leads the GNAC in both events. Both times rank Zook No. 10 on the GNAC All-Time List and earned him selection as the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week.

• Junior Jorey Egeland won the men’s 5,000 meters in a time of 13:39.53, a time which ranks sixth in the GNAC this season. Senior Austin Lindquist won the men’s triple jump with a mark of 42 feet, 8.25 inches and finished second in the 110-meter hurdles in 15.95 seconds. Sophomore Beau Ackerman was the winner in the men’s javelin with a mark of 179 feet, 11 inches.

• The Yellowjackets collected three runner-up finishes from freshmen in the women’s sprints. Katelyn Eastburn was second in the 100 meters in 12.86 seconds. Miranda Livingston was second in the 400 meters in 1:07.67 while Michaela Johnson was second in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.44 seconds.

• Freshman Chuck Carr also posted a pair second place finishes in the jumps. He placed second in the high jump with a mark of 6 feet, 4.75 inches, and was runner-up in the long jump in 20 feet, 10.75 inches.

• The Yellowjackets head to Greeley, Colo., this weekend to compete in the Tom Bench Invitational, hosted by Northern Colorado.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• At long last, Northwest Nazarene opens its outdoor season this weekend when they travel to the Bay Area for the San Francisco State Distance Carnival and the Stanford Invitational.

• The Crusaders returned home from the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships with one First Team All-American and one second team selection.

• Junior Payton Lewis was an All-American in the men’s pole vault for second consecutive season. He placed third for the second straight year as he cleared 16 feet, 10.75 inches. It is Lewis’ fourth All-American trophy overall.

• After being entered at the last minute due to a medical scratch, senior Cole Hoberg earned Second Team All-America distinction as he placed 10th in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 9.5 inches.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s did not compete last weekend after a strong performance the previous weekend at the L&C Spring Break Open. The Saints return to the track on Saturday at the Shotwell Invitational in Tacoma, Wash.

• Junior Kauanoe Vanderpoel a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the men’s hammer, placing third at L&C with a mark of 186 feet, 9 inches. The mark is sixth best in Division II this season and is No. 16 on the GNAC All-Time List.

• The Saints earned a top-three sweep in the women’s javelin at L&C. Junior Deanna Avalos won with a mark of 133 feet, 7 inches. Senior Kathryn Walker was second with a mark of 130 feet, 4 inches and sophomore Jona Spiller was third in 128 feet, 8 inches.

• Saint Martin’s women were ranked No. 24 in the first USTFCCCA Division II Outdoor Computer Rankings of the season, but have dropped out since that time.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific honored its legendary former head coach with three NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers and seven individual event victories at the Doris Heritage Distance Festival.

• Junior Chynna Phan won the women’s 800 meters in a time of 2:12.94. The time is a NCAA provisional qualifier and is third best in the GNAC and 12th in Division II.

• Senior Sammi Markham earned a provisional qualifying mark in the women’s javelin as she won the event with a mark of 139 feet. That ranks 13th in Division II this season. Markham also placed second in the shot put with a mark of 39 feet, 4.5 inches.

• Junior Mary Charleson earned a provisional qualifying mark in the women’s 1,500 meters. Her fifth place time of 4:33.58 is fourth in the GNAC and 13th in Division II this season.

• Sophomore Geneva Lehnert won two events, capturing the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 2.5 inches, and the long jump with a mark of 17 feet, 8 inches. Junior Peyton Harris was SPU’s lone individual men’s winner, taking the long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 7.25 inches.

• Seattle Pacific will be in split squad mode this weekend. The Falcons’ top athletes will compete at the Stanford Invitational and the San Francisco State Distance Carnival. The rest of the squad will be at the Shotwell Invitational in Tacoma, Wash.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser opened its outdoor season at home and established seven NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks at the Achilles Cup dual with British Columbia.

• Sophomore Valda Kabia was named the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she won both sprint events. She won the 100 meters in 12.21 seconds and the 200 meters in 24.78 seconds, both of which lead the GNAC.

• Sophomore Addy Townsend and junior Alana Mussatto took the top two places in the women’s 800 meters in provisional qualifying times. Townsend won in a time of 2:11.27, the seventh best time in Division II this season. Mussatto was second in 2:12.80, 11th best in Division II this season.

• Senior Chantel Desch won the women’s 400 meters in 55.76 seconds, provisionally qualifying her for nationals. The time is eighth best in Division II.

• Junior Paige Nock placed third in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:32.44. The provisional qualifying time is eighth best in Division II. Junior Julia Howley ran 4:33.33 in the same race, 12th best in Division II this season.

• Senior Vladislav Tsygankov opened his season with a lifetime best in the men’s 400 meters, winning in a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 47.94 seconds. The time is tied for 10th in Division II so far this season and ranks sixth on the GNAC All-Time List. Tsygankov also won the long jump with a mark of 23 feet, 2 inches.

• Senior Peter Behncke provisionally qualified for nationals in the men’s hammer, placing second with a mark of 176 feet, 5 inches.

• Simon Fraser split the results in its annual dual with cross-town rival British Columbia. The Clan won the women’s dual by a score of 67-51. The Thunderbirds took the men’s competition 63-52.

• Simon Fraser will compete all across the West Coast. The Clan will compete at the Stanford Invitational and the San Francisco State Distance Carnival and will also have athletes at the UBC Open in Vancouver, B.C.

WESTERN OREGON
• A school record in the women’s 4x400-meter relay team topped Western Oregon’s efforts at the Willamette Invitational.

• The squad of Grayson Burke, Megan Rose, Suzie Van De Grift and Olivia Woods won in a time of 3:49.01, bettering the old record by two seconds.

• Senior Nicole Maurmann was a winner in the women’s 1,500 meters in a time of 4:40.60. The performance is 10th best in WOU history and seventh best in the GNAC this season.

• Junior AJ Holmberg was the lone WOU men’s event winner as he took the 800 meters in a time of 1:53.02. The performance is the best in the GNAC this season. Senior Aaron Whitaker placed second in the 400 meters with a time of 48.80 seconds.

• The quartet that won the men’s indoor distance medley relay made its outdoor debut. Holmberg, Dustin Nading, David Ribich and Josh Dempsey finished second in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:23.23.

• The WOU men also had a pair of second place finishes in the jumps. Freshman Alani Troutman placed second in the long jump with a mark of 22 feet, 5.25 inches, and freshman Kolton Koenig-Rohde was runner-up in the triple jump in 43 feet, 3.75 inches.

• Western Oregon will be in the Bay Area this weekend, competing in the Stanford Invitational and the San Francisco State Distance Carnival.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• A sweep of the men’s pole vault and NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks for seniors Brandon Pless and Brittany Grant led Western Washington’s efforts at the Doris Heritage Distance Festival.

• Pless placed second in the shot put with a provisional qualifying mark of 52 feet, 5.5 inches. The mark is 22nd in Division II this season and 10th on the GNAC All-Time List. Pless also placed second in the hammer with a mark of 173 feet, 8 inches. The performances made Pless the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week.

• Grant notched a provisional qualifying mark in the women’s 1,500 meters as she placed fourth with a time of 4:40.49, behind three Division I competitors from Washington. The time is second best in the GNAC and 11th in Division II this season.

• Sophomore Adam Thomas won the men’s pole vault with a mark of 14 feet, 11 inches. Senior Gordie Kordas was second at 14 feet, 5.25 inches and senior Jacob Hino was third at 13 feet, 11.25 inches.  

• Junior Isaac Derline was a winner in the men’s 5,000 meters, winning by 24 seconds in a time of 14:50.17. He led a top-three sweep for the Vikings in the event.

• In the women’s sprints, sophomore Savannah Smith was second in the 400 meters in a time of 58.70 seconds and sophomore Emily Systma placed third in 59.60 seconds.

• Freshman Sophia Galvez won the women’s section of a mixed 10,000 meters race, running the fastest time in the GNAC this season at 38.27.78. Junior Alexandra Laiblin was second in a time of 39:25.33.

• Western Washington will split its squad this weekend, sending athletes to both the Stanford Invitational and the San Francisco State Distance Carnival in the Bay Area and to the Shotwell Invitational in Tacoma, Wash.