Monday, December 13, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – Conference teams had their first look at the Northwest’s newest indoor track and field venue last weekend at the Spokane Open. The performances did not disappoint as the athletes on the oval lead the GNAC Athlete of the Week awards.

Western Washington junior Mac Franks was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he broke the WWU school record in the 800 meters. His second-place time of 1:52.34 surpassed the previous record of 1:53.29 set by Kyler Sager in 2019. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark is No. 11 in Division II this season.

Seattle Pacific sophomore David Njeri earned the Men’s Field Athlete of the Week award after attaining the second-best indoor mark in conference history in the triple jump. Njeri placed second with a mark of 49 feet, 0.75 inches. That is just short of the conference record of 49 feet, 5 inches, set by Luke Plummer of Central Washington in 2015. Njeri’s mark is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and ranks No. 7 in Division II this season.

Falcons freshman Annika Esvelt won Women’s Track Athlete of the Week with her fourth-place finish in the 3,000 meters in a time of 9:57.68. The top non-Division I finisher in the field, Esvelt’s time is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and ranks No. 12 in Division II this season.

Central Washington senior Meagan Smallbeck received the Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after she placed third in the weight throw with a mark of 55 feet, 6 inches. She was the top non-Division I competitor out of 30 entrants in the event.

On the court, Wildcats junior center Samantha Bowman was named the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after turning in another monster double-double at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday. Bowman finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds, five steals, three blocks and an assist in the hard-fought 61-59 loss. She shot 11 of 18 from the field, 3 of 6 from three-point range and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Western Washington junior guard Erwin Weary, Jr., was selected as the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he led the Vikings with 32 points in 31 minutes off the bench in Sunday’s 121-63 win over Northwest Indian. It was the second 30-plus point performance for Weary over Northwest Indian this season. He also had nine rebounds and two steals and made 11 of 19 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 16
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Erwin Weary, Jr. (Western Washington, G, 6-5, Jr., Lynnwood, Wash. – Edmonds CC): Weary posted his second straight 30-plus point performance against Northwest Indian, pouring in 32 points in 31 minutes off the bench in Sunday’s 121-63 victory. Weary connected on 11 of 19 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line to go with nine rebounds (including four offensive boards) and two steals. Also Nominated: Carrington Wiggins (Montana State Billings), Gabe Murphy (Northwest Nazarene), Christian Haffner (Saint Martin’s), Jordan Lyons (Simon Fraser), John Morrill-Keeler (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Samantha Bowman (Central Washington, C, 6-3, Jr., Zillah, Wash. – Zillah): Bowman was a force in the Wildcats’ game at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday. She finished with a double-double of 29 points and 16 rebounds to go with five steals, three blocks and an assist, shooting 11 of 18 from the field, 3 of 6 from three-point range and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line. Central Washington fell in a close 61-59 contest. Also Nominated: Teagan Thurman (Northwest Nazarene), Tierney DeDonatis (Saint Martin’s), Madisyn Clark (Western Oregon).

MEN’S TRACK
Mac Franks (Western Washington, Jr., Lake Forest Park, Wash. - Shorecrest): Franks opened his 2021-22 season by breaking the WWU record in the 800 meters at the Spokane Open. Franks placed second with a time of 1:52.34, surpassing the previous WWU record of 1:53.29 set by Kyler Sager in 2019. The time is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and currently ranks 11th in Division II. Also Nominated: Nicholas Wong (Northwest Nazarene), Andrew Boyd (Saint Martin’s), Jeff Gordon (Seattle Pacific), Bailey Smith (Western Oregon).

MEN’S FIELD
David Njeri (Seattle Pacific, So., Tacoma, Wash. – Wilson): Njeri had the second-best mark in GNAC history in the indoor triple at the Spokane Open on Saturday. His second-place mark of 49 feet, 0.75 inches is just off the conference record of 49 feet, 5 inches set by Central Washington’s Luke Plummer in 2015. The mark is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and is No. 7 this season in Division II. Also Nominated: Colton Burr (Northwest Nazarene), Josh Schulz (Saint Martin’s), Deshaun Stevens (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Annika Esvelt (Seattle Pacific, Fr., Spokane, Wash. – West Valley): Esvelt opened her Seattle Pacific indoor career with a fourth-place finish in the 3,000 meters at the Spokane Open. The top non-Division I finisher in the race, her time of 9:57.68 is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and is 12th in Division II this season. Also Nominated: Cassidy Walchak-Sloan (Saint Martin’s), Ana Popchock (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Meagan Smallbeck (Central Washington, Sr., Tacoma, Wash. – Tacoma Baptist): Smallbeck opened the season with a third-place finish in the weight throw at the Spokane Open, finishing with a mark of 55 feet, 6 inches. She was the top non-Division I competitor in the event out of 30 total entrants. Also Nominated: Destany Herbert (Northwest Nazarene), Pheobe Young (Saint Martin’s), Moana Giaanotti (Western Oregon), Katie Potts (Western Washington).