Monday, February 2, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Simon Fraser men’s and women’s track and field teams had 11 national qualifying marks at the University of Washington Invitational Friday and Saturday, earning them the Red Lion Hotels Team of the Week award.

The Clan women had six qualifying marks and the men had five while breaking a GNAC record in just their second indoor event of the year.

“I’m extremely happy with where we are right now,” Simon Fraser head coach Brit Townsend said. “I think we’ve moved to the next level and are able to compete with the top teams and athletes at nationals."

The Clan women, who are ranked 15th nationally in the USTFCCCA, were led by senior Lindsey Butterworth and her two qualifying marks in the 800 meter run and distance medley relay.

Butterworth, who was named the GNAC Athlete of the Week on Monday, is now the Division II national leader in the 800 meters, distance medley and in the mile run. Her times of 2:06.56 in the 800 meter race and 4:44.80 in the mile are also the second-fastest times ever in the GNAC.

Senior Jennifer Johnson also had a strong performance in the mile run, reaching a national qualifying time of 4:47.11 at the invitational, a personal-best. Butterworth and Johnson have the two fastest times in the GNAC this year in the event.

Pairing with Butterworth on the relay team were Rebecca Bassett, Monique Lisek and Paige Nock. Their time of 11:40.01 now leads the NCAA and is fifth all-time in the conference.

Nock, a freshman, had the second fastest Division II 800 meter time at the invitational behind Butterworth. She finished with a personal-best time of 2:14.63 which ranks third in the conference and 13th in the NCAA.

Bassett competed in the 3,000 meter run, topping all GNAC runners with a time of 9:43.20 which ranks ninth nationally. Simon Fraser’s Peggy Noel was the second GNAC finisher in the event, ending with the 10th fastest GNAC time ever at 9:50.96.

On the men’s side, Travis Vugteveen, Joel Webster, Cameron Proceviat and Marc-Antoine Rouleau finished the distance medley relay with a time of 9:54.66, breaking an eight-year GNAC record by less than half of a second.

The team’s finish provisionally qualified them for the national meet as its time is currently the sixth-fastest in the NCAA.

“(The relay teams) ran very well,” Townsend said. “That was a great performance and they deserve to be at the national championship. There are many places we can shave off a few seconds, but with a month left before the last chance meet I think we can accomplish that.”

Three of the relay runners also posted top 10 national times in two other events.

Vugteveen and Rouleau competed in the mile run, finishing only .27 of a second apart for the second- and third-fastest times in the GNAC this season. These two performances also are the fifth- and sixth-fastest times in the NCAA.

Proceviat had the 10th fastest 800 meter time at the invitational, but his run of 1:52.00 was the eighth fastest in Division II this season.

Clan sophomore Oliver Jorgensen also finished the day with a top 10 national performance, running the seventh-fastest time in the 5,000 meter run. His 14:28.15 finish ranks third all-time in the GNAC.

After the UW Invitational, the Clan holds the top spot in 10 different men’s and women’s events in the GNAC.

"This was our best indoor meet ever since moving to the NCAA,” Townsend said. “The kids are really motivated and see their national championship opportunity.” 

“I’m really excited about the quality of athletes we have," Townsend continued. "The quality of our runners, especially our mid-distance runners, are exceptional and I look forward to seeing what they do the rest of the season.”

Both Simon Fraser teams will be back in Seattle two weeks from now competing at the Husky Classic.