Wednesday, January 30, 2019

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Pierre-Louis Detourbe, Simon Fraser
Sophomore • Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, France

The top Division II finisher in the 3,000 meters at the UW Invitational, Detourbe placed 10th in a time of 8:16.19. Hitting an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in his first-ever indoor meet, Detourbe now has the No. 8 best mark in Division II this season and just missed a spot on the GNAC All-Time List.

Also Nominated: Jackson Hand (Saint Martin’s), Tyler Jones (Western Oregon), Koby Okezie (Western Washington).

MEN’S FIELD
Giovanni Brown, Concordia
Senior • Erie, Pa.

Competing in his first heptathlon of the season, Brown hit an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark with his score of 4,985 points at the UW Invitational. The mark is second-best in the GNAC this season and is No. 7 on the GNAC All-Time List. Brown placed eighth in the primarily Division I field.

Tyler Cronk, Saint Martin’s
Freshman • Kent, Wash.

Cronk continued his great collegiate start, placing second in the high jump at the UW Invitational. Cronk and Utah State’s Leaugen Fray-Benoit both cleared 6 feet, 9.75, inches, with Fray-Benoit awarded first place based on fewer misses.

Also Nominated: Brady Ostermiller (Montana State Billings), Mont Child (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Caroline Kurgat, Alaska Anchorage
Senior • Eldoret, Kenya

For the second time in as many races, Kurgat set a Division II all-time all-conditions best, this time in the 5,000 meters at the UW Invitational. Her winning time of 15:28.46 was 33 seconds faster than the official Division II record of 16:01.59 set by Neely Spence of Shippensburg in 2011. It is the top collegiate time in the event this season (all levels) and is the 20th fastest time ever in the indoor 5,000 meters by a collegian. The performance is also the 12th fastest in the world this season.

Also Nominated: Alexa Shindruk (Central Washington), Chase Stephens (Concordia), Ariya Kendrick (Saint Martin’s), Addy Townsend (Simon Fraser), Olivia Woods (Western Oregon), Sophia Galvez (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Chelsea Bone, Concordia
Sophomore • Oregon City, Ore.

For the second straight week, Bone set the Concordia record in the pentathlon. At the UW Invitational, Bone finished with a score 3,514 points. While finishing in 13th place, she was the only Division II athlete in the competition and finished fourth in the 800 meters. The mark moves Bone to No. 7 on the GNAC All-Time List and ranks No. 14 in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Samantha La Rue (Central Washington), Keshara Romain (Saint Martin’s), Mariah Gronbach (Western Oregon), Maddie Taylor (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Another national all-time best for the incomparable Caroline Kurgat led Alaska Anchorage’s performances at the UW Invitational.

• The senior won the women’s 5,000 meters in a Division II all-time all-conditions best time of 15:28.46 (run on an oversized track). That time is 33 seconds better than the official Division II record of 16:01.09 set by Neely Spence of Shippensburg in 2011. It is the second Division II all-time best for Kurgat is as many weeks. The NCAA Championships automatic qualifying time earned Kurgat selection as the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week and the USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Athlete of the Week.

• The Seawolves netted two NCAA provisional qualifiers in the men’s 5,000 meters. Junior Wesley Kirui eighth in 14:18.62, moving to No. 6 on the GNAC All-Time List and No. 15 in Division II this season. Senior Edwin Kangogo ran 14:39.15, placing 18th and ranking 36th in Division II.

• Senior Danielle McCormick, the defending national champion in the women’s 800 meters, improved her NCAA provisional mark. McCormick ran 2:10.90, placing 25th (second Division II placer) and moved to No. 6 in Division II this season.

• The Seawolves’ women’s distance medley relay team also notched a provisional qualifying mark. The quartet of Ruth Cvancara, Tylantiss Atlas, McCormick and Nancy Jeptoo ran 11:53.47, which is fourth in Division II this season.

• Alaska Anchorage jumped six spots in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Team Index to No. 7.

• Alaska Anchorage will not compete again until traveling to Seattle again on Feb. 8 and 9 for the Husky Classic.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• A solid NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time for senior Alexa Shindruk led Central Washington at the UW Invitational.

• Shindruk ran 9:42.19 in the women’s 3,000 meters, a personal indoor best to place 38th overall and first among Division II competitors. The time is fifth fastest in Division II this season.

• Senior Mariyah Vongsaveng showed well in the women’s 60-meter hurdles amidst the Division I field, placing fourth in a time of 8.66 seconds that matched her season best. That time is tied for seventh-best in Division II this season.

• Junior Erykah Weems just missed the top-10 in the women’s 400 meters, placing 12th in 57.21 seconds. The time ranks No. 2 in the GNAC this season.

• Junior Samantha La Rue established a lifetime best in the women’s weight throw. Her mark of 53 feet, 5 inches, was good for 11th place and is the second-best mark in the GNAC this season.

• Sophomore Braydon Maier led a limited CWU men’s roster to gain entry to the meet, placing ninth in the heptathlon with a score of 4,974 points. His best individual event finish came in the high jump, placing sixth with a clearance of 6 feet, 0.75 inches.

• Central Washington retained its spot at No. 12 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Indoor Team Index.

• Central Washington will send a more expanded roster to Pullman, Washington this weekend to compete at the Cougar Indoor.

CONCORDIA
• A pair of NCAA Championships provisional qualifying performances in the multi-events headlined Concordia’s performances at the UW Invitational.

• Senior Giovanni Brown finished eighth in the heptathlon, the highest Division II placer. His score of 4,985 points ranks 17th in Division II this season and places his at No. 7 on the GNAC All-Time List. In individual events, Brown won the 1,000 meters (2:35.26) and placed second in the shot put (44-4). The performance earned Brown selection as the GNAC Men’s Field Co-Athlete of the Week.

• Sophomore Chelsea Bone set the Concordia record in the pentathlon for the second time in as many weeks, placing 13th with a score of 3,514 points. She was the top Division II placer, moved up to No. 7 on the GNAC All-Time List and to No. 14 in Division II this season. The performance earned Bone selection as the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week for the second straight week.

• Sophomore Kori Sprague established an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the women’s weight throw. Her fifth-place mark of 55 feet, 10.25 inches is 32nd in Division II this season, leads the GNAC and is sixth on the GNAC All-Time List.

• Sophomore Macie Allen had a fifth-place finish in the qualifying rounds of the women’s 60 meters, clocking 7.74 seconds. Senior Josh Koch took seventh in the invitational section of the men’s shot put with his mark of 53 feet, 9 inches, while senior Sam Nichols took seventh in the open men’s shot put with a mark of 51 feet, 3.75 inches.

• Concordia will compete once more before the GNAC Indoor Championships, taking part in the Husky Classic on Feb. 8 and 9.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Senior Brady Ostermiller’s NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the men’s shot put led Montana State Billings’ efforts at the Air Force Invitational.

• Ostermiller placed fourth with a season-best mark of 52 feet, 11.5 inches. The mark is 44th in Division II this season and is third-best in the GNAC. Ostermiller also had a mark of 46 feet, 7.5 inches in the weight throw.

• Sophomore Drake Henson surpassed his own MSUB record in the men’s 800 meters, placing second in a time of 1:56.00. He bettered his previous best of 1:56.13. When converted to 1:54.65 to account for altitude, Henson has the best mark in the GNAC this season.

• Junior Isaiah Girard tied the MSUB school record in the men’s high jump, taking sixth with his clearance of 6 feet, 8 inches. The mark tied the record set by Chuck Carr in 2017 and ranks second in the GNAC this season.

• The Yellowjackets had a pair of top-three finishers in the men’s 3,000 meters. Senior Ivan Colmenero placed second in a time of 9:13.22 while senior Tyus Mendoza placed third in 9:24.94.

• A trio of personal best times in the 800 meters led the Yellowjackets’ women. Freshman Sierra Durbin led the way, placing fourth in 2:29.63. Junior Miranda Livingston was sixth in 2:37.70 and sophomore Rachel Hiner was seventh in 2:38.51.

• Montana State Billings will compete for the final time before the GNAC Indoor Championships this weekend, traveling to the Colorado Invitational.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene did not compete last week. The Nighthawks will have three meets over the next three weeks, beginning with the Jackson’s/Nike Boise Indoor this weekend in Nampa, Idaho.

• A provisional qualifying mark in the heptathlon for sophomore Dakota Tidwell led the Nighthawks at the Ed Jacoby Invitational on Jan. 18 & 19. Tidwell placed second with a score of 4,923 points. The performance ranks 21st in Division II this season. In the process, Tidwell ran a school-record in the 60 meters with a time of 7.26 seconds.

• A month after setting the NNU record in the men’s shot put, senior Jake Knight placed second in the event with a mark of 55 feet, 4.75 inches. Freshman Canyon Anderson finished third in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 55 feet. In addition, sophomore Elijah Castro placed third in the men’s long jump with his mark of 22 feet, 10 inches.

• Senior Lexi Tubbs led the Northwest Nazarene women, placing fourth in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.97 seconds. Sophomore Jackie Mahowald added a fifth-place finish in the women’s triple jump with her mark of 37 feet, 6 inches.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Another stellar effort for freshman Tyler Cronk in the men’s high jump led Saint Martin’s performances at the UW Invitational.

• Cronk, one of three non-Division I competitors in the event, finished second with a clearance of 6 feet, 9.75 inches. He tied with Utah State’s Leaugen Fray-Benoit in terms of clearance, but Fray-Benoit was awarded first based on fewer misses. For his effort, Cronk was named the GNAC Men’s Field Co-Athlete of the Week.

• Freshman Keshara Romain turned in a ninth-place finish in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 37 feet, 4.5 inches, the best mark by a non-Division I athlete.

• In the men’s weight throw, senior Kauanoe Vanderpoel finished 12th in the weight throw with a mark of 52 feet. Senior Liz Larson added a 23rd place mark in the women’s weight throw with a mark of 47 feet, 8 inches.

• Senior Jackson Hand and sophomore Michael Russell led the Saints’ efforts on the track. Hand placed 11th in the men’s 200 meters with a time of 22.40 seconds while Russell was 14th in a time of 22.51 seconds.

• Saint Martin’s will not compete this week. The Saints return to the track for the Husky Classic on Feb. 8 and 9.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• A big season-best for junior Kate Lilly in the women’s mile headlined Seattle Pacific’s efforts at the UW Invitational.

• Lilly cut five seconds off of her lifetime best as she ran a time of 5:00.62. The time is the best in the GNAC this season and is not far off the NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark of 4:58.90.

• Sophomore Kellie May also posted a season-best in the women’s triple jump, finishing 15th with her leap of 36 feet, 3.5 inches. Her previous best was a mark of 35 feet, 2.5 inches two weeks ago. The performance ranks May sixth in the GNAC this season.

• Freshman Peace Igbonagwam led the Falcons in the sprints, clocking 7.78 seconds in the qualification flights of the women’s 60 meters. It was the second-fastest time recorded by a Division II competitor in the event and is third best in the GNAC this season.

• Freshman Sean Barbour led a limited SPU men’s lineup that competed at the UW Invitational, placing 18th in the pole vault with a clearance of 13 feet, 0.25 inches.

• Seattle Pacific will be in action both weekends leading up to the GNAC Indoor Championships. The Falcons will compete at the Cougar Indoor on Friday and Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• A Division II season-best and four new NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks led Simon Fraser’s performances at the UW Invitational.

• The women’s distance medley relay team of senior Paige Nock, sophomore Renate Bluschke, senior Sophie Dodd and senior Addy Townsend placed eighth in a time of 11:35.62. The mark leads Division II and was just off of the automatic qualifying time of 11:35.38 for the NCAA Championships.

• Likewise, the Clan women’s 4x400-meter relay team also established a provisional qualifying time. The team of senior Bryce West, Dodd, Townsend and Bluschke finished sixth in 3:49.03, a mark that is No. 4 in Division II this season.

• In addition to her legs in both relays, Townsend picked up a provisional qualifying mark in the 800 meters. The top Division II placer in the event, Townsend was 10th in a time of 2:08.70. That leads the GNAC and is third in Division II this season. In the same race, Dodd improved her season best with a time of 2:13.11, ranking her ninth in Division II.

• Sophomore Pierre-Louis Detourbe established a provisional qualifying mark in the men’s 3,000 meters, running 8:16.19. He was the lone Division II competitor in a sea of Division I and elite-level open competitors. The time ranks Detourbe seventh in Division II this season. It was his first-ever indoor meet.

• The Clan men’s distance medley relay team of sophomore Aaron Ahl, freshman Nate St. Romain, senior Carlos Vargas and Detourbe placed fourth in a time of 9:58.86, which ranks SFU No. 7 in Division II this season.

• The men’s 4x400-meter relay team of junior Josh Adhemar, freshman Kaito Suzuki, junior Richard Torres and St. Romain added a fifth-place finish with a time of 3:22.62. It is the second-fastest time in the GNAC this season.

• Simon Fraser’s women bubbled up big, appearing at No. 14 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Team Index. The Clan had been ranked at No. 60 in the index last week.

• Simon Fraser will send runners to three different meets this week. The Clan’s elite runners will compete at the Hillsdale Wide Track Classic in Michigan and the Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Classic in Boston. The bulk of the team will travel to the Cougar Indoor.

WESTERN OREGON
• An NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark for the two-time defending champion men’s distance medley relay team led Western Oregon’s efforts at the UW Invitational.

• The quartet of junior Justin Crosswhite, freshman Lashaun Emile, sophomore Curt Knott and senior Tyler Jones placed sixth overall in a time of 10:01.78. The mark ranks No. 10 in Division II this season and is second in the GNAC.

• Sophomore Mont Child came away with a pair of solid marks in the men’s throws. Child placed 16th in the shot put with a mark of 46 feet, 5.25 inches and ended up 20th in the weight throw at 48 feet, 10 inches. In the women’s throws, junior Mariah Gronbach placed 18th in the weight throw with a mark of 51 feet, 0.75 inches.

• Senior Olivia Woods ran her first 800-meter race of the season, clocking in with a time of 2:15.57. The performance is sixth-best in Division II this season.

• Senior Cody Warner had the fastest time for a Division II athlete in the meet in the men’s 60 meters, running 6.99 seconds in the preliminary flights. He later ran 7.03 in the second set of flights. The performance ties him for second in the GNAC this season.

• Western Oregon will not compete again until Feb. 8 and 9, returning to Seattle for the Husky Classic.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• A pair of 11th-place finishes in the men’s field events led Western Washington performances at the UW Invitational.

• Senior Jacob Ringold led four WWU finishers in the men’s triple jump, placing 11th with a mark of 44 feet, 6 inches. Senior Somit Chhim was not far behind with a mark of 44 feet, 3.25 inches.

• Sophomore Ben Malquist scored an 11th-place finish in the men’s shot put, finishing with a mark of 47 feet, 9.25 inches.

• Sophomore Myles Smith moved up to No. 7 in the WWU record book in the men’s 400 meters, placing 14th in a time of 49.88 seconds. He led four Vikings to compete in the event out of 37 competitors, primarily from Division I schools.

• Freshman Ian Rinefort finished in 16th place in the heptathlon, posting a score of 4,650 points in his second multi-event performance of the season. He finished fourth in the heptathlon’s final event, the 1,000 meters, with a time of 2:39.05.

• The Vikings will send a select number of athletes this weekend to the Cougar Indoor in Pullman, Washington. The rest of the team will next compete at the Husky Classic on Feb. 8 and 9.