Thursday, February 10, 2022

GNAC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS TICKETS ON SALE: Tickets are now on sale for the 2022 GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships as the annual event moves this month to the Northwest’s newest and best indoor track facility.

The 2022 meet will take on Monday, Feb. 21 and Tuesday, Feb. 22 at The Podium in Spokane, Washington.

Advanced purchase general admission tickets are $15 per day. Tickets for students, youth 12 and under, seniors, members of the military and first responders are available for $10 per day. A two-day ticket is available for $30 for general admission or $20 for students, youth 12 and under, seniors, members of the military and first responders. Tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/gnacindoortracktix2021.

Per county health regulations, a facemask worn over the nose and mouth will be required of all spectators. Per facility regulations, spectators are allowed one clear plastic vinyl bag no larger than 14 inches by 14 inches by six inches. Backpacks and purses larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches are not permitted. Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items or single compartment diaper bags. Outside food and drink are not permitted.

Opened for competition last fall, The Podium will be the home of the GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships through at least 2024. The venue features a state-of-the-art, 200-meter six-lane hydraulic banked track with a Beynon rubberized surface and fixed seating for 3,000 athletes and fans. The track is one of the few 200-meter hydraulic banked tracks in the U.S. and is the first in the western U.S.

In addition to the hydraulic track, The Podium boasts two throwing cages, two horizontal jump pits, high jump and pole vault pits and an eight-lane 60-meter sprint straightaway on the infield. The venue is outfitted with Gill equipment. The facility also includes a temperature-controlled warm-up track on the lower level, a spectator level with concessions, and an entire floor dedicated to media, press and timing.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Austin Albertin, Central Washington
Senior • Finley, Wash.

Albertin placed third in the 400 meters at the WSU Open on Friday in Spokane. The top non-Division I placer out of 38 finishers, Albertin crossed the line in a time of 49.40 seconds.

Also Nominated: Tyler Shea (Northwest Nazarene), Kainalu Pagente (Saint Martin’s), Keeton Sanchez (Western Oregon), Kevin McDermott (Western Washington).

MEN’S FIELD
Ethan Sterkel, Western Washington
Junior • Longview, Wash.

Sterkel placed third in the long jump at the WSU Invitational with a mark of 23 feet, 5.5 inches. He was one of just three individual GNAC top-three finishers at either WSU meet over the weekend. Sterkel also placed 11th in the high jump at the WSU Open with a clearance of 6 feet, 2.75 inches.

Also Nominated: Steven Schmidt (Northwest Nazarene), Owen Collins (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Ana Popchock, Western Oregon
Sophomore • Maupin, Ore.

Popchock finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles at the WSU Open. Her NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time of 8.83 seconds leads the GNAC and is tied for 22nd in Division II this season. Popchock also placed fifth in the triple jump with a lifetime best mark of 36 feet, 10.5 inches.

Also Nominated: Abbey Wood (Northwest Nazarene), Sara Sabra (Saint Martin’s), Ila Davis (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Jenelle Hurley, Western Oregon
Sophomore • Grants Pass, Ore.

Hurley hit the NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the pentathlon at the WSU Invitational on Thursday, placing 10th with a score of 3,436 points. The total leads the GNAC and is 20th in Division II this season. One of just three non-Division I athletes in the field, Hurley tied for fifth in the high jump (5-3.75).

Also Nominated: Meagan Smallbeck (Central Washington), Kinsey Langin (Northwest Nazarene), Aliyah Dawkins (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Senior Collin Sample’s fourth-place finish in the men’s long jump led Alaska Anchorage’s efforts at the WSU Open on Friday in Spokane.

• Sample was the top non-Division I finisher in the field, recording a mark of 21 feet, 11.75 inches. The performance was short of a season-best of 22 feet, 3.5 inches at the UW Invite on Jan. 28.

• The men’s 4x400-meter relay team of Kevin Angarita, Timothy Hunter, Adrian Velasco and Wyatt Rhode also placed fourth in a time of 3:26.12. They were the top non-Division I finishers in the field.

• Angarita added a 10th-place finish in the men’s 400 meters. His time of 50.96 seconds ranks eighth in the GNAC this season.

• Freshman Blanca De Arvizu Sarrias led the Seawolves’ women’s finishers, placing 26th in the 60-meter hurdles in 9.54 seconds. Sophomore Carlotta Duenninger was 27th in the high jump, clearing 4 feet, 8.25 inches.

• Alaska Anchorage will conclude the indoor regular season with its longest road trip of the season, competing in the GVSU Big Meet on Friday and Saturday in Allendale, Michigan.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Senior Austin Albertin’s performance in the men’s 400 meters and senior Meagan Smallbeck’s performance in the women’s weight throw paced Central Washington at the WSU Open and WSU Invitational in Spokane.

• Albertin was named the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he placed third in the 400 meters in the WSU Open. His time of 49.40 seconds was the top non-Division I performance in the field. Albertin also competed in the 800 meters in the WSU Invitational, placing 18th in 1:57.11.

• Smallbeck was the Wildcats’ top women’s finisher in the meet, placing fourth in the weight throw with a mark of 55 feet, 9 inches. She was the top non-Division I finisher and the only non-Division I athlete in the top 10.

• Senior Makenna Hansen broke her own school record in the women’s 60 meters for the third time this season, running a time of 7.73 seconds in the preliminary heats. The time ranks No. 3 in the GNAC this season.

• Senior Avery Fisk was the Wildcats’ top finisher in the WSU Invitational, placing 11th in the women’s shot put with a mark of 39 feet, 5.75 inches.

• The Wildcats’ women’s distance medley relay team of Kay Lester, Madison Thompson, Caitlin Gohr and Madison Child placed seventh during the second day of the WSU Invitational, finishing in a time of 13:32.19.

• Central Washington completes its regular-season indoor schedule on Saturday in Spokane, competing at the Whitworth Invitational.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings did not compete last weekend. The Yellowjackets will return to the track on Friday and Saturday at the Mountain State Games in Pocatello, Idaho.

• Juniors Ase Ackerman and Kailee Stoppel swept the 800 meters and mile in their respective genders, earning the majority of Montana State Billings’ five wins at the Don Holst Open on Jan. 29 in Chadron, Nebraska.

• Ackerman finished just ahead of teammate Carson Jessop in the men’s 800 meters, winning in a time of 2:05.05. Jessop was second in 2:00.27. Ackerman was a two-second winner over teammate Logan Straus in the mile, clocking a time of 4:22.22.

• Stoppel was the winner in the women’s 800 meters by nearly five seconds, crossing the line in a time of 2:23.59. Stoppel was a four-second winner in the mile, capturing the race in a time of 5:21.02.

• Sophomore Kendall Lynn was a winner once again in the women’s triple jump, finishing with a mark of 35 feet, 1 inch. Lynn also improved her season-best in the long jump with a mark of 16 feet, 8.5 inches.

• Sophomore Bradley Graves made his debut in the men’s 60-meter hurdles and placed second with a time of 8.63 seconds. The time ranks seventh in the GNAC this season and 0.12 seconds off of the MSUB record.

• Freshman Chantel Chase also performed well in her first time in the women’s 60 meters, placing fourth with a time of 8.25 seconds. The performance ranks seventh in MSUB history.

• The women’s 4x400-meter relay team of Madeline Severson, Annelise Clark, Chase and Skyler Taylor took second with a time of 4:21.77.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Junior Tyler Shea broke the Northwest Nazarene record in the men’s 3,000 meters to lead the Nighthawks’ performances at the WSU Open.

• Competing indoors for the first time this season, Shea placed 10th in a time of 8:31.60. He was the top non-Division I finisher in the field and the only non-Division I finisher in the top 25.

• Junior Abbey Wood was one of two non-Division I finalists in the women’s 60 meters, placing sixth in a time of 7.73 seconds after clocking 7.72 seconds in the preliminaries. The mark is tied for first in the GNAC this season and is the fastest by a conference athlete since Jan. 15.

• Sophomore Kinsey Langin tied for fifth place in the women’s pole vault and was among five athletes to clear 11 feet, 9.75 inches. The mark is the best in the GNAC this season and just missed the NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark of 12 feet, 1.25 inches.

• Freshman Hunter Braseth was the top non-Division I finisher in the men’s 400 meters, breaking 50 seconds for the first time with a fifth-place time of 49.97 seconds. The time ranks fourth in the GNAC this season.

• The men’s 4x400-meter relay team, comprised of Braseth, Josh Beck, Shalkar Wilkins and Quincy Ellis, placed fifth in a time of 3:28.00 that ranks fourth in the GNAC this season. Freshman Steven Schmidt added a sixth-place finish in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 4.75 inches.

• Northwest Nazarene will remain in the Gem State this weekend, competing in the Mountain State Games in Pocatello on Friday and Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• A small corps of distance runners represented Saint Martin’s at the WSU Open and WSU Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Spokane.

• Freshman Sara Sabra led the way, placing 13th in the women’s 5,000 meters in a time of 19:02.03. Freshman Kya Ramirez placed 15th in a time of 20:15.80. The times rank fourth and sixth, respectively, in the conference this season.

• Freshman Cassidy Walchak-Sloan added a 13th-place finish in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:20.33. She was the top non-Division I finisher in the field.

• Freshman Kainalu Pagente was the Saints’ top men’s finisher, placing 15th in the men’s 5,000 meters in a season-best time of 15:27.28. Junior Lance Slichko placed 17th in a time of 15:50.23.

• Saint Martin’s will return to The Podium on Saturday to compete in the Whitworth Invitational.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific did not compete last week. The Falcons will conclude the indoor regular season on Saturday in Spokane at the Whitworth Invitational.

• Sophomore Annika Esvelt’s super debut in the women’s 5,000 meters led Seattle Pacific’s performances at the UW Invitational on Jan. 28 and 29.

• Esvelt finished second in her first track race at the distance with a time of 16:31.74. The time ranks No. 2 in SPU history, No. 2 in Division II this season and No. 7 on the GNAC All-Time List.

• Sophomore Jeff Gordon had the Falcons’ best men’s track race of the meet, placing sixth in the 200 meters with a time of 22.73 seconds. Gordon also just missed the finals in the 60 meters, placing 12th in the preliminaries with a time of 7.14 seconds.

• Sophomore Julius Shepherd was 11th in a time of 22.88 seconds. He went on to place sixth in the 400 meters with a time of 51.14 seconds.

• In the women’s sprints, seniors Peace Igbonagwam and Jenna Bouyer just missed spots in the 60-meter final. Both athletes ran times of 7.85 seconds, with Igbonagwam placing 11th and Bouyer placing 13th in the preliminaries. The duo also finished back-to-back in the 400 meters, with Igbonagwam clocking 58.71 seconds and Bouyer clocking 58.77 seconds.

• Junior David Njeri was SPU’s top athlete in the men’s field events, placing third in the triple jump with a mark of 47 feet, 1.5 inches and fifth in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 7 inches. Sophomore Kainoa Lee placed fourth in the pole vault with a clearance of 14 feet, 3.25 inches.

SIMON FRASER
• After a big week in Boston at the end of January, Simon Fraser did not compete. The team will be back in action at the Whitworth Invitational on Saturday in Spokane with a handful of athletes racing in the Lilac Grand on Friday night.

• Simon Fraser set two GNAC records, ran two times ranked No. 2 in Division II history, established four GNAC all-time top-10 marks and notched 10 NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks at the John Thomas Terrier Classic on Jan. 28 and 30 in Boston.

• Junior Aaron Ahl was named the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after running the second-fastest time in Division II history in the mile. Ahl placed fifth in a time of 3:57.95 to surpass the former GNAC record of 3:58.88 set by Western Oregon’s David Ribich in 2018. Ahl is only the second GNAC athlete to break the four-minute mile barrier.

• Ahl also teamed with freshman Ephrem Mekonnen, sophomore Callum Robinson and freshman Aiden Good to surpass the previous Division II record in the men’s distance medley relay. The team placed third in a time of 9:38.04, eclipsing the former GNAC and Division II record of 9:40.15 set by Western Oregon in 2017. The time ranks No. 2 in Division II history as American International ran 9:36.62 to win the same race.

• Senior Alison Andrews-Paul ran the second-fastest time in Division II history in the women’s 1,000 meters. Andrews-Paul finished a close second place to Boston College’s Katherine Mitchell in a time of 2:44.54.

• Andrews-Paul teamed with sophomore Erika Binder, freshman Marie-Eloise Leclair and junior Emily Lindsay to place second in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:46.88. The time ranks fourth in Division II this season and No. 6 on the GNAC All-Time List.

• Among the SFU women to earn NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks were Leclair in the 200 meters (24.82), sophomore Megan Roxby in the mile (4:57.67) and junior Olivia Willett in the mile (9:50.83t).

• Other Simon Fraser men earning NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks included Good in the 800 meters (1:52.39), freshman Henry Ruckman-Utting in the mile (4:09.10) and freshman Scott Arndt in the 3,000 meters (8:12.80).

• With the weekend away from the track, the Simon Fraser men dropped to No. 13 in the USTFCCCA Division II Indoor Track Index while the SFU women dropped to No. 16.

WESTERN OREGON
• A pair of Athlete of the Week-winning performances, including a school record for sophomore Ana Popchock, led the Western Oregon efforts at the WSU Open and WSU Invitational.

• Popchock was named the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she broke the WOU record in the 60-meter hurdles in the WSU Open, placing fourth in a time of 8.83 seconds. That bettered the previous record of 8.91 seconds set by Rochelle Pappel in 2015. The mark leads the GNAC and is tied for 22nd in Division II this season. Popchock later finished fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 36 feet, 10.5 inches.

• Junior Jenelle Hurley repeated as the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after she earned an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the pentathlon at the WSU Invitational. She placed 10th with a score of 3,346 points, which ranks 20th in Division II this season.

• Junior Marlon Harrison was the Wolves’ top male finisher, placing fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 43 feet, 5 inches. Senior Owen Collins added a ninth-place finish in the shot put with a mark of 47 feet, 4.5 inches that ranks second in the GNAC this season.

• Sophomore Maliyah Thompson just missed joining Popchock in the finals of the women’s 60-meter hurdles, placing 10th in the preliminary heats in a time of 9.14 seconds.

• Western Oregon has two meets on the docket this weekend. The Wolves will send athletes to the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday in Seattle and to the Portland Indoor #4 meet on Sunday at the Chiles Center.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Junior Ethan Sterkel had another solid performance in the men’s long jump and a record for the men’s distance medley relay team led Western Washington’s performances at the WSU Open and WSU Invitational.

• Sterkel was named the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week once again after placing third in the long jump with a mark of 23 feet, 5.5 inches. He was the top non-Division I finisher in the event and tied with Kamau Carlisle of California, but was awarded third based on previous marks.

• The men’s DMR of Kevin McDermott, Bryant Welch, Drew Weber and Mac Franks broke the WWU record for the second straight week, placing second behind Division I Idaho in a time of 9:50.82. The time betters the Vikings NCAA Championships provisional qualifier in the event and ranks eighth in Division II this season.

• On Saturday, McDermott lowered his season-best in the men’s mile with an eighth-place time of 4:10.37. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time ranks 51st in Division II this season. Franks added a fourth-place finish in the men’s 800 meters in a time of 1:52.20. Both athletes were the top non-Division I finishers in their races.

• Senior Beau Sheeran posted a second-place finish in the men’s high jump with a mark of 6 feet, 6.75 inches. He is tied for the top mark in the GNAC this season.

• Senior Aliyah Dawkins was WWU’s top women’s finisher, taking fifth in the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 5.25 inches.

• Freshman Ila Davis added a 14th-place finish in the mile in a time of 5:10.66. Freshman Sophie Wright was 16th in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:21.87.

• Western Washington closes out the indoor regular this weekend by competing in the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday in Seattle.