Annika Esvelt, Seattle Pacific

Esvelt’s name is a familiar one among the GNAC running community, and the SPU junior got her indoor season started with a similar degree of success that has come to be her standard throughout a decorated cross country and track career. Opening up at the UW Indoor Preview last week, Esvelt checked in with a time of 9:41.62 in the 3,000 meters to earn herself an early provisional qualifying mark. Esvelt’s time was the 11th fastest in the young Division II season, and she was just over three seconds off her PR in the event of 9:38.43 which she set during the 2021-22 indoor season. Look for Esvelt’s name to be a constant presence among the GNAC’s distance events throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Ryan Greenwalt, Western Washington

The GNAC’s best 60 meter time of the season thus far was posted by Greenwalt, who crossed the line in 6.87 seconds at the UW Indoor Preview. It was a PR for one of the conference’s longest-tenured athletes, whose career dates back to the 2019-20 season. Greenwalt also put forth the conference’s best long jump mark of the season, posting a leap of 22’ 5” (6.83 meters) last week. Greenwalt was an all-conference performer in that event at both the GNAC Indoor Championships and GNAC Outdoor Championships during the 2022-23 campaign.

Destany Herbert, Northwest Nazarene

Herbert earned all-conference in the shot put for the first time by finishing second at the GNAC Indoor Championships in 2022 and hasn’t looked back since. The long-tenured Nighthawk followed up by winning the title at last year’s indoor and outdoor events and has picked up right where she left off to start this season. Herbert got her name on the preliminary qualifying list last month by unleashing a toss of 46’ 4.75” (14.14 meters) at the Spokane Invitational. Look for Herbert to remain a strong contender to defend both of her titles as the 2023-24 season progresses.

Kevin Angarita, Alaska Anchorage

The reigning GNAC champion in the 400 meters got his 2023-24 season off to a good start, posting the league’s best time of the year at 48.67 seconds at the UW Indoor Preview. Angarita won the GNAC Indoor title in the event last winter with a time of 48.70, before doubling down with the GNAC Outdoor title in a personal-best 47.59 seconds last spring. The third-year Seawolf provided evidence that he’s poised for another stellar campaign, running a personal-best 60-meters time of 7.06 seconds last week as well.

The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association releases national and regional rankings throughout the 2024 indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. The first set of rankings will be released on Jan. 22-23.