Monday, May 24, 2021

NEW ORLEANS – A year away did little to diminish the level of excellence for the GNAC in track and field as 56 conference student-athletes have received All-West Region honors from the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

A total of 35 men and 21 women from six of the conference’s eight competing schools were recognized. Awards were presented to the top-five individuals in each region and the top-three ranked relay teams. Only USTFCCCA-member programs are eligible for awards.

Western Washington led the GNAC with 23 athletes earning regional honors, 14 men and nine women. Senior Cordell Cummings leads the WWU men with three awards in the 110-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles and as a member of the Vikings’ 4x400-meter relay. Sophomore Aliyah Dawkins was one of three women’s athletes to earn two all-region awards in the high jump and long jump.

Central Washington senior Aidan Cain also received three all-region honors in the men’s shot put, discus and hammer. Seattle Pacific senior Dania Holmberg earned two certificates in the women’s 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters and junior Renick Meyer was honored in both the 100-meter hurdles and the long jump.

The GNAC saw seven athletes finish with the top marks in the West Region. The men’s list includes Western Washington senior Calahan Warren in the 10,000 meters, WWU freshman Jeret Gillingham in the steeplechase, Central Washington senior Braydon Maier in the pole vault, Western Washington senior Ben Malquist in the shot put, Central Washington senior Andrew Harris in the hammer and Montana State Billings senior Beau Ackerman in the javelin. Western Washington senior Hannah Nienaber had the women’s top mark in the region in the javelin.

2021 USTFCCCA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ALL-WEST REGION
GNAC Selections
Men
Alaska Anchorage: Lawson Sims (Steeplechase), Joshua Wagner (110 Hurdles, 400 Hurdles)
Central Washington: Angus Beaton (Hammer), Aidan Cain (Shot Put, Discus, Hammer), Zachary Davis (100 Meters, 4x100 Relay), Andrew Harris (Hammer), Harry Horwath (4x100 Relay), Braydon Maier (Pole Vault, Decathlon), Martin Napeahi (Discus), Doc Porter (4x100 Relay), Bryan Sidor (4x100 Relay), Ethan Tonder (Shot Put, Hammer), Gunner Vallatini (400 Hurdles)
Montana State Billings: Beau Ackerman (Javelin), Isaiah Girard (High Jump), Payden Lynn (Triple Jump)
Northwest Nazarene: Brody Monson (Javelin), Tyler Shea (10,000 Meters), Dylan Tidwell (800 Meters)
Seattle Pacific: David Njeri (Triple Jump)
Western Washington: Lucas Brenek (4x400 Relay), Cordell Cummings (110 Hurdles, 400 Hurdles, 4x400 Relay), Mark Daniels (4x400 Relay), Mac Franks (800 Meters, Steeplechase), Jeret GIllingham (Steeplechase), Eric Hamel (10,000 Meters), Trent Kibler (High Jump), Kaleb Korta (Steeplechase), Ben Malquist (Shot Put), Kevin McDermott (1,500 Meters), Koby Okezie (110 Hurdles), Kacey Provo (Pole Vault), Jaydon Tryon (Javelin), Calahan Warren (1,500 Meters, 5,000 Meters, 10,000 Meters), Bryant Welch (4x400 Relay)

WOMEN
Alaska Anchorage: Tylantiss Atlas (400 Meters)
Central Washington: McCall DeChenne (400 Hurdles), Avery Fisk (Shot Put, Discus), Megan Smallbeck (Hammer)
Montana State Billings: Taylor Stringari (Hammer)
Northwest Nazarene: Bethany Danner (10,000 Meters), Kinsey Langin (Pole Vault)
Seattle Pacific: Scout Cai (Pole Vault), Dania Holmberg (1,500 Meters, 5,000 Meters), Kate Lilly (Steeplechase), Renick Meyer (100 Hurdles, Long Jump), Ellie Rising (800 Meters)
Western Washington: Aliyah Dawkins (High Jump, Long Jump), Talia Dreicer (Steeplechase), Karlie Hurley (Triple Jump), Jessica Neal (High Jump), Hannah Nienaber (Javelin), Katie Potts (Shot Put), Amanda Short (Javelin), Natalie Vetto (Javelin), Raine Westfall (Hammer)