Monday, January 30, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – It was a big week for GNAC track and field teams at the UW Invitational, and the record performances of Western Oregon’s David Ribich lead the list of honorees for GNAC Players and Athletes of the Week.

Ribich was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Week for the second time this season after he played a role in two GNAC records. The junior set the conference and WOU record in the men’s mile, placing fifth in his heat with a time of 4:02.30. The performance automatically qualifies Ribich for the NCAA Championships and is the best this season in Division II. Ribich then ran the anchor leg on the Wolves’ distance medley relay team that set WOU and GNAC records with a time of 9:45.45. That performance was also a NCAA Championships automatic qualifier and the best in Division II.

Alaska Anchorage’s Jamie Ashcroft earned the women’s track weekly award after she raced to a pair of GNAC bests at the UW Invitational. Ashcroft ran 7.63 seconds in the second qualifying round of the 60 meters, which ties her for 10th in Division II this season. She also ran the conference’s best time in the 200 meters with a time of 24.90 seconds, which ties her for 19th on the Division II seasonal best list. Ashcroft owns the GNAC records in both events at 7.60 seconds and 24.25 seconds, respectively.

Western Washington’s Gordon Kordas was tabbed as the Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he vaulted his way onto the GNAC top-10 list at the UW Invitational. Kordas placed sixth in the second flight of the pole vault with a clearance of 15 feet, 9.25 inches. The performance ties him for No. 9 on the GNAC all-time list, is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and is third best in the GNAC this season.

Concordia’s McKenzie Warren earned the Women’s Field Athlete of the Week award for the third consecutive time after she bolted past the field in the women’s shot put. Warren finished over five feet ahead of the Division I-laden field with a winning effort of 56 feet, 1.25 inches. She also placed 11th in her flight of the weight throw with a mark of 52 feet, 3 inches. Warren continues to lead Division II in the shot put and is third best in all divisions this season.

Alaska Anchorage swept both basketball weekly awards. Guard Sekou “Suki” Wiggs was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he notched two 30-plus point performances to lead the Seawolves to two road wins. He scored 31 points with six rebounds, three assists and three steals in Thursday’s 67-63 win at Saint Martin’s. Wiggs then scored 34 points in Saturday’s 83-81 overtime win at Seattle Pacific, making 13 of 27 from the field and 6 of 8 from the free throw line.

Guard Kiki Robertson was selected as the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after she helped lead Alaska Anchorage to its 14th and 15th consecutive wins. She scored 12 points to go along with three rebounds, eight assists and two steals in Tuesday’s 89-48 win over Alaska. Robertson then added nine points, four rebounds, five assists and five steals in Thursday’s 82-43 win over Montana State Billings.

This week’s GNAC Player of the Week selections honored six athletes from four conference schools. Alaska Anchorage led the way with three selections.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 22
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Sekou “Suki” Wiggs (Alaska Anchorage, G, 6-4, Sr., Seattle, Wash. – Univ. of Idaho): Wiggs posted back-to-back 30-plus point performances to lead the Seawolves to a pair of road wins. He opened the week by scoring 31 points in Thursday’s 67-63 win at Saint Martin’s, making 12 of 13 form the free throw line to go along with six rebounds, three assists and three steals. In Saturday’s 83-81 overtime win at Seattle Pacific, Wiggs connected for 34 points on 13 of 27 from the field and 6 of 8 from the free throw line. Also Nominated: Drew Martin (Concordia), Maurice Jones (Northwest Nazarene), Deandre Dickson (Western Washington), Cole Preston (Saint Martin’s), Preston Beverly (Montana State Billings), Ali Faruq-Bey (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Kiki Robertson (Alaska Anchorage, G, 5-7, Sr., Honolulu, Hawaii – Mid-Pacific Institute): Robertson helped the Seawolves extend its current win streak to 15 games with a pair of steady performances. In Tuesday’s 89-48 win over Alaska, Robertson finished with 12 points to go along with three rebounds, eight assists and two steals. She then scored nine points to go along with four rebounds, five assists and five steals in Thursday’s 82-43 home win over Montana State Billings. Also Nominated: Lexi Tubbs (Northwest Nazarene), Rachel Albert (Western Washington).

MEN’S TRACK
David Ribich (Western Oregon, Jr., Enterprise, Ore. – Enterprise): Ribich set the WOU and GNAC records in the men’s mile, finishing fifth in the fifth section of the event at the UW Invitational with a time of 4:02.30. The time is a NCAA Championships automatic qualifier and is the best mark in Division II this season. Ribich also anchored the Wolves’ school and GNAC record distance medley relay with a time of 9:45.45. The performance is the best in Division II and a national meet automatic qualifier. Also Nominated: Isaac Mitchell (Northwest Nazarene), Andrew Wise (Western Washington), Sean Miller (Simon Fraser).

MEN’S FIELD
Gordon Kordas (Western Washington, Sr., Blaine, Wash. – Blaine): At the UW Invitational, Kordas placed sixth in the second flight of the pole vault with a clearance of 15 feet, 9.25 inches. The performance was a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and third best in the GNAC this season. The mark also ties Kordas for ninth on the GNAC all-time list.

WOMEN’S TRACK
Jamie Ashcroft (Alaska Anchorage, Sr., Shawnigan Lake, B.C. – Frances Kelsey): Ashcroft ran two GNAC-leading performances and improved her NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks in the sprints at the UW Invitational. She ran 7.63 seconds in the second qualifying round of the 60 meters, which ties her for 10th best in Division II this season. She also ran a time of 24.90 seconds in section four of the 200 meters, which is tied for 19th in Division II. Also Nominated: Brittany Grant (Western Washington), Shannon Porter (Saint Martin’s), Suzie Van de Grift (Western Oregon), Addy Townsend (Simon Fraser).

WOMEN’S FIELD
McKenzie Warren (Concordia, Sr., Boring, Ore. – Mt. Hood CC): Warren won the GNAC weekly award for the third consecutive week after winning the shot put at the UW Invitational. Her mark of 56 feet, 1.25 inches, was more than six feet better than the rest of the field. Warren continues to lead Division II in the shot put with her season best of 57 feet, 7 inches, and is third among all divisions. Warren also placed 11th in her flight of the weight throw at 52 feet, 3 inches. Also Nominated: Anna Paradee (Western Washington).