Wednesday, May 5, 2021

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Jeret Gillingham, Western Washington
Freshman • Sandy, Ore.

Gillingham won the steeplechase at the Ralph Vernacchia Meet in a time of 9:03.33. The time is tops in the GNAC this season and No. 2 on Western Washington’s all-time list. The performance is also an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and ranks No. 19 in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Joshua Wagner (Alaska Anchorage), Doc Porter (Central Washington), Jared Putney (Seattle Pacific), Hunter Hutton (Western Oregon).

MEN’S FIELD
David Tran, Western Washington
Senior • Vancouver, Wash.

Tran was the winner in the long jump at the Ralph Vernacchia Meet on Saturday with a leap of 23 feet, 5.25 inches. The mark leads the GNAC, is No. 6 on WWU’s all-time list and is just short of an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark.

Also Nominated: Andrew Harris (Central Washington), David Njeri (Seattle Pacific), Jalon Fields (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Dania Holmberg, Seattle Pacific
Senior • Eagle, Idaho

Holmberg won the 1,500 meters at the Buc Scoring Meet on Friday by eight seconds, winning with a GNAC-leading time of 4:29.73. The time is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and ranks No. 22 in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Dani Taylor (Central Washington), Caitlin Heldt (Western Oregon), Aliyah Dawkins (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Scout Cai, Seattle Pacific
Senior • Colfax, Wash.

Cai broke the GNAC record in the pole vault at the Buc Scoring Meet in Spokane on Friday. Cai won the event with a clearance of 13 feet, 3 inches, which surpasses the previous record of 13 feet, 1.75 inches, set by Anna Paradee of Western Washington in 2017. Cai has won all nine pole vault competitions she has entered this season.

Also Nominated: Carlotta Duenninger (Alaska Anchorage), Meagan Smallbeck (Central Washington), Jenelle Hurley (Western Oregon), Natalie Vetto (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Freshman Joshua Wagner’s school record in the men’s 110-meter hurdles led Alaska Anchorage’s performances at the Ralph Vernacchia Meet on Saturday.

• Wagner took second with a time of 14.62 seconds, surpassing the 14.74 seconds run by Cody Thomas in 2016. The time ranks third in the GNAC this season. Wagner also third in the 200 meters with a time of 22.27 seconds.

• Freshman Carlotta Duenninger moved into No. 2 on the UAA all-time list in the women’s javelin, placing third with her throw of 125 feet, 11 inches.

• The Seawolves’ lone winner in the meet was the women’s 4x400 relay where Kaitlyn Backman, Haley Bartolaba, Victoria Johnansen and Alfin Nyamasyo combined for a time of 4:09.63.

• Backman added a second-place finish in the 400 meters in 1:00.79 while Bartolaba was second in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:07.60.

• At the GNAC Combined Events Championships, senior Elena Cano placed second in the women’s heptathlon with a score of 4,855 points. The day one points leader, Cano tied for first in the high jump (5-4.25).

• Senior David Sramek placed fourth in the men’s decathlon with a score of 6,320 points. Sramek tied for first in the opening event, the 100 meters, in 11.35 seconds.

• The Ralph Vernacchia Meet was the final regular-season meet for Alaska Anchorage. The Seawolves will compete next at the GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 14 and 15 in Monmouth, Oregon.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• A dominant performance in the women’s throws led Central Washington’s efforts at the Ralph Vernacchia Meet.

• Junior Avery Fisk won two of the throws for the second straight week, winning the shot put with a mark of 44 feet, 10.25 inches, and the discus with a mark of 145 feet, 5 inches.

• Junior Meagan Smallbeck won the hammer with an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark of 177 feet, 6 inches. The GNAC-leading mark is No. 2 on the CWU all-time list and ties her for 26th in Division II this season.

• In the men’s throws, senior Andrew Harris was a winner in the men’s hammer once again with a mark of 189 feet, 10 inches.

• The CWU women picked up four wins in the chat. Freshman Dani Taylor was first in the 400 meters in 59.95 seconds while freshman Rachel Krill won the 400-meter hurdles in 1:07.74. Junior Molly Mattson won the 5,000 meters in 18:11.92 and the women’s 4x100-meter relay team with a time of 49.59 seconds.

• The men were led by junior Zachary Davis, who took second in the 100 meters in 10.91 seconds. Senior Doc Porter placed second in the 400 meters in 49.44 seconds with senior Gunner Vallatini placing second in the 400-meter hurdles in 54.69 seconds. The men’s 4x400-meter relay team won with a time of 3:24.62.

• At the GNAC Combined Events Championships, senior Braydon Maier won the men’s decathlon with a score of 6,776 points. Maier, who also won in 2018, won the shot put (37-5.75), the 110-meter hurdles (15.26), pole vault (15-5) and the 1,500 meters en route to the victory. Freshman Ryan Thoma placed third with 6,850 points.

• Sophomore McCall DeChenne placed fourth in the women’s heptathlon with a score of 4,383 points. DeChenne won both the 200 meters (25.75) and the 800 meters (2:19.93).

• The Ralph Vernacchia Meet was the final regular-season meet for Central Washington. The Wildcats will compete next at the GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 14 and 15 in Monmouth, Oregon.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings did not compete last week. The Yellowjackets will close their regular season with the DSU Last Chance Meet on Saturday in Dickinson, N.D.

• Performances by seniors Beau Ackerman and Isaiah Girard at the Drake Relays led Montana State Billings as the team competed both in Iowa and at the Trudnowski Open in Helena, Montana on April 23 and 24.

• Ackerman won the college section of the javelin at the Drake Relays for the second time in his career. Ackerman won with a throw of 216 feet, 3 inches, a mark that would have placed third in the university section.

• Girard took third in the college section of the men’s high jump, clearing the bar at 6 feet, 6.75 inches.

• Senior Mason Schram won the men’s 100 meters to lead MSUB at the Trudnowski Open, crossing the line in a time of 11.13 seconds. Schram took second in the 200 meters with a time of 22.45 seconds.

• Freshman Kendall Lynn was the winner in the women’s triple jump with her mark of 35 feet, 8 inches. In the men’s field events, freshman Payden Lynn won the javelin with his mark of 171 feet, 2 inches. Freshman Bryce Olson took second in the triple jump with a mark of 44 feet, 1.5 inches, and placed third in the long jump at 21 feet, 1.25 inches.

• On the track, junior Carson Jessop ran a personal best in the men’s 5,000 meters to win in a time of 15:45.53.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Sixth place finishes for junior Jaidyn Kinneeveauk and sophomore Turner Nye paced Northwest Nazarene at the GNAC Combined Events Championships.

• Kinneeveauk placed sixth in the women’s heptathlon with a score of 4,167 points. Nye placed sixth in the men’s decathlon with a score of 5,891 points. Freshman Matt Mitchell was the individual winner in the decathlon high jump, clearing 6 feet, 1.25 inches.

• The rest of the NNU team completed the regular season by competing in the BYU Robison Invitational on April 23 and 24 in Provo, Utah.

• Freshman Kinsey Langin placed fourth in the pole vault with a lifetime best and NNU record clearance of 12 feet, 8 inches. The mark moves Langin to No. 4 on the GNAC All-Time List and ties her for 30th in Division II this season.

• Junior Tyler Shea easily won the men’s 10,000 meters by over a minute, crossing in a time of 31:24.60. The time ranks third in the GNAC this season.

• The NNU women also performed well in the 10,000 meters. Junior Kalen Johnson took second with a time of 39:18.86 while senior Bethany Danner was third in 39:32.04.

• In the sprints, freshman Dylan Tidwell took second in the men’s 800 meters in a time of 1:53.64. Senior Lauren Wuertz set a personal best in the women’s 400 meters, placing seventh in a time of 56.48 seconds.

• Next for the Nighthawks will be the GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 14 and 15 in Monmouth, Oregon.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Wins for freshman Cassidy Walchak-Sloan and Josh Schulz led Saint Martin’s performances at the Ralph Vernacchia Meet.

• Walchak-Sloan won the women’s 800 meters, recording a time of 2:17.64 which ranks sixth in the GNAC. Schulz won the men’s triple jump by over four feet with a mark of 43 feet. 3.75 inches.

• Walchak-Sloan had one of four top-three finishes for the SMU women on the track. Freshman Makiya Worthy was second in the 200 meters in 25.45 seconds. Freshman Elaina Hansen was second in the 1,500 meters in 5:00.56 and freshman Kierrla Yates was third in the 400 meters in a time of 1:02.49.

• Sophomore Landon Armstrong led the Saint Martin’s men on the track, placing second in the 200 meters in a time of 22.21 seconds and placing third in the 100 meters in 11.10 seconds.

• In the women’s field events, junior Ashley Vest tied for third in the high jump with a clearance of 5 feet. 2.5 inches. Freshman Jocelyn Saribay added a third-place finish in the shot put with her mark of 40 feet, 11.5 inches.

• Junior Andrew Alfred finished third in the men’s pole vault, clearing 13 feet. 5.75 inches. Sophomore Cooper McCullough added a third-place finish in the men’s triple jump at 45 feet, 4.5 inches.

• The Ralph Vernacchia Meet was the last of the regular season for Saint Martin’s. The Saints will compete next at the GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 14 and 15 in Monmouth, Oregon.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Senior Scout Cai’s GNAC record in the women’s pole vault led Seattle Pacific’s performances on Friday at the Buc Scoring Meet in Spokane.

• Cai was named the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after she won the pole vault with a record mark of 13 feet, 3 inches. The clearance surpassed the previous record of 13 feet. 1.75 inches, set by Anna Paradee of Western Washington in 2017. In nine pole vault competitions she has competed in this season, Cai has won all nine times.

• Junior Dania Holmberg was named the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she won the 1,500 meters in a time of 4:29.73. The GNAC-leading mark is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and is 29th in Division II this season.

• Senior Grace Bley ran a pair of lifetime bests, winning the 100 meters in 12.01 seconds and breaking the stadium record in the 200 meters in 24.53 seconds.

• Sophomore David Njeri took over the GNAC lead in the men’s triple jump, taking second with a mark of 48 feet, 0.5 inches.

• At the GNAC Combined Events Championships, junior Renick Meyer used a strong second day to win the women’s heptathlon with a score of 4,903 points. Meyer won three of the discipline’s events, the 100-meter hurdles (14.25), the long jump (19-2) and the javelin (108-10). It is the second heptathlon title for Meyer, who also won in 2018. Junior Kellie May was the individual winner in the shot put (34-8.25).

• Seattle Pacific will complete the regular season on Friday at the Ken Shannon Invitational in Seattle.

SIMON FRASER
• Due to the closure of the U.S./Canada border due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Simon Fraser’s will not compete in the GNAC track and field season.

WESTERN OREGON
• A win for junior Bailey Smith in the men’s steeplechase and a school record for junior Caitlin Heldt in the women’s 5,000 meters led Western Oregon at the OSU High Performance Meet in Corvallis, Oregon.

• Heldt ran a 70-second lifetime best to finish second in the 5,000, finishing in a time of 17:08.22. That edged out Kennedy Rufener’s previous record of 17:08.51 set in 2018.

• Smith was the Wolves’ lone winner in the Division I laden meet, winning the men’s steeplechase with a time of 9:18.34. The time ranks fifth in the GNAC this season.

• Senior Justin Crosswhite picked up a second-place finish in the men’s 1,500 meters in a time of 3:50.61. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time ranks 55th in Division II this season.

• Sophomore Jalon Fields added a third-place finish in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 46 feet, 2.75 inches.

• At the GNAC Combined Events Championships, junior JJ Walker used a solid second day to finish second overall in the men’s decathlon with a score of 6,584 points. Walker was the individual winner of the javelin with a mark of 115 feet, 1 inch. Junior Deshaun Stevens won the 400 meters in 51.16 seconds.

• Freshman Jenelle Hurley placed third in the women’s heptathlon with a score of 4,519 points. Hurley tied for first in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 4.25 inches.

• Western Oregon will close the regular season at the George Fox Meet on Thursday and with a handful of athletes entered in the Oregon Twilight on Friday in Eugene.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington’s men captured 13 event victories while the women took five as the Vikings hosted the Ralph Vernacchia Meet.

• Freshman Jeret Gillingham was named the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he won the steeplechase in a time of 9:03.33. The GNAC-leading mark is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark and ranks 19th in Division II this season.

• Senior David Tran was named the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he won the long jump with a GNAC-leading mark of 23 feet, 5.25 inches. He just narrowly missed the NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark of 23 feet, 10 inches.

• Senior Cordell Cummings won both men’s hurdles events, taking the 110-meter hurdles in 14.53 seconds and the 400-meter hurdles in 53.57 seconds. Junior Bryant Welch was also a two-event winner in the 200 meters in 21.99 seconds and the 400 meters in 49.05 seconds.

• Junior Aliyah Dawkins won the women’s 100-meter hurdles in 14.55 seconds.  Senior Talia Dreicer won the women’s steeplechase in 11:16.69 while freshman Madison Fassiotto won the pole vault with a clearance of 10 feet, 10.75 inches.

• At the GNAC Combined Events Championships, sophomore Cooper Cummings was the top WWU finisher in the men’s decathlon, placing fifth with a score of 5,916 points. Freshman Ryan Kenny tied for first in the opening event, the 100 meters, with a time of 11.35 seconds.

• Sophomore Leanne Kibbee finished eighth in the women’s heptathlon, compiling a score of 3,840 points.

• Western Washington closes the regular season on Friday, taking part in the Ken Shannon Invitational in Seattle.