Wednesday, March 30, 2022

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Tyler Shea, Northwest Nazarene
Junior • Spokane, Wash.

Shea opened his outdoor season by setting the NNU record in the 5,000 meters at Saturday’s Team 4 Titus & Ely Invitational in Irvine, California. Shea won by 38 seconds, crossing the finish line in a time of 14:23.08. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time ranks 12th in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Coleman Nash (Alaska Anchorage), Zach Sundt (Central Washington), Benjamin Ralston (Montana State Billings), Andrew Boyd (Saint Martin’s), Jeff Gordon (Seattle Pacific), Paul Buckingham (Simon Fraser), Bailey Smith (Western Oregon), Calahan Warren (Western Washington).

MEN’S FIELD
Austin Goldstein, Western Oregon
Senior • Sherwood, Ore.

Goldstein became the 25th athlete in GNAC history to surpass 200 feet in the javelin, winning the event at Saturday’s Willamette Invitational with a mark of 203 feet, 2 inches. The performance improved Goldstein’s NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark, ranking No. 6 in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Wyatt Franklin (Central Washington), Forrest Cross (Montana State Billings), Dylan Hendry (Northwest Nazarene), Andrew Schulz (Saint Martin’s), Jarrett Chong (Simon Fraser), Cooper Cummings (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Tylantiss Atlas, Alaska Anchorage
Senior • Dallas, Texas

Atlas performed well against the Division I-laden field at the Aztec Invitational in San Diego. She placed sixth in the 400 meters in an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time of 55.75 seconds, which ranks No. 5 in Division II this season. Atlas ran the fourth-fastest time in UAA history in the 200 meters, clocking 24.64 seconds, and ran a leg on the Seawolves’ 4x400-meter relay team that ran the eighth-fastest time in UAA history at 3:53.68.

Also Nominated: Madeline Severson (Montana State Billings), Abbey Wood (Northwest Nazarene), Cree Bell (Saint Martin’s), Jenna Bouyer (Seattle Pacific), Marie-Éloïse Leclair (Simon Fraser), Ana Popchock (Western Oregon), Mia Crocker (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Elena Cano, Alaska Anchorage
Senior • Alpine, Texas

Cano hit a pair of NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks while winning the heptathlon at the Aztec Invitational. She won the overall seven-event discipline with a score of 4,593 points that leads Division II this season and is No. 2 in UAA history. She also hit a provisional qualifier in the high jump with a clearance of 5 feet, 7.25 inches which is tied for sixth in Division II this season and tied for No. 8 on the GNAC all-time list. Cano also ran in the open 100-meter hurdles (14.99) and ran a leg on the Seawolves’ 4x400-meter relay team.

Also Nominated: Avery Fisk (Central Washington), Ryann Moline (Montana State Billings), Miya Koch (Northwest Nazarene), Jocelyn Saribay (Saint Martin’s), Kennedy Primrose (Western Oregon), Katie Potts (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• A pair of GNAC Athlete of the Week performances and four NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks led Alaska Anchorage at the Aztec Invitational in San Diego.

• Senior Elena Cano was named the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after she won the heptathlon with a score of 4,996 points. The total is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and leads Division II this season. During the competition, Cano hit a provisional qualifying mark in the high jump. Her clearance of 5 feet, 6.5 inches is tied for sixth in Division II this season and tied for eighth on the GNAC all-time list.

• Senior Tylantiss Atlas was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she placed sixth against Division I competition in the 400 meters. Her time of 55.75 seconds is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier, ranks No. 5 in Division II this season and is No. 4 all-time at UAA. Both Atlas and Cano combined with Joei Vidad and Leonie Flad on the women’s 4x400-meter relay team that ran the eighth-fastest time in UAA history at 3:53.68.

• Sophomore Coleman Nash placed second in the men’s 1,500 meters. His time of 3:48.86 is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark and ranks No. 17 in Division II this season. Junior Jacob Moos placed fourth in a time of 3:50.16.

• Sophomore Joshua Wagner placed third in the men’s 110-meter hurdles in a time of 14.84 seconds. Freshman Mette Van der Meer bettered her own UAA record in the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 11 feet, 4.25 inches.

• Alaska Anchorage will head for the Bay Area this week, competing in the Mike Fanelli Track Classic Thursday through Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington picked up five individual victories, including two by senior Avery Fisk, at the Peyton-Shotwell Invitational on Saturday in Tacoma.

• Fisk was a winner in the women’s discus throw with a mark of 139 feet, 7 inches, and also won the shot put with a mark of 42 feet, 4.25 inches. Both marks are lifetime bests and the shot put mark leads the GNAC this season.

• Freshman Aiden Wise picked up a victory in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a season-best time of 15.17 seconds. He also placed second in the 400 meters with a time of 57.56 seconds.

• Sophomore Wyatt Franklin won the men’s discus with a mark of 144 feet, 1 inch and added a third-place finish in the shot put at 40 feet, 5 inches. Junior Omar Young placed third in the men’s discus with his mark of 124 feet, 10 inches.

• Senior Zachary Sundt was the Wildcats’ other winner on the track, taking first in the men’s 1,500 meters in a time of 4:04.76. He also finished second in the 800 meters in a time of 1:59.23.

• Other top-three finishers for the Wildcats included junior Chris Hines, who placed second in the men’s triple jump (43-1.75) and freshman Drew Klein, who was third in the men’s long jump (21-0.75).

• Central Washington will split its squad this week, taking a select group of athletes to the Hayward Premiere in Eugene on Friday and Saturday. The rest of the squad will compete in Saturday’s WWU Invitational in Bellingham.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings had solid performances in the middle distances and in the relays to lead its efforts at the Yellow Jacket Spring Open on Friday and Saturday in Spearfish, South Dakota.

• Junior Ase Ackerman picked up the victory in the men’s 1,500 meters, clocking a time of 3:58.62. He also placed second in the 800 meters in a time of 1:59.18.

• Freshman Benjamin Ralston won the men’s 400 meters in a time of 50.50 seconds, a time that is No. 5 on the MSUB all-time list. Sophomore Bradley Graves added a third-place finish in the men’s 110-meter hurdles in 15.97 seconds.

• The women’s 4x100-meter relay team of Madison Thompson, Katelyn Hamill, Taylor Gordon and Chantel Chase was a five-second winner in a time of 50.70 seconds. The women’s 4x400-meter relay team of Madeline Severson, Sierra Durbin, Ally Whitmer and Chase was a 10-second winner in a time of 4:15.50.

• The Yellowjackets picked up a pair of second-place finishes in the steeplechase. Junior Kailee Stoppel was second in the women’s event with a time of 12:31.35 while junior Carson Jessop was second in the men’s race in 9:37.46.

• Severson added a second-place finish in the women’s 400 meters in a time of 1:01.67. Junior Ally Whitmer added a second-place finish in the women’s 800 in a time of 2:28.88.

• Montana State Billings will open April at home, co-hosting the Yellowjacket/Battlin’ Bear Open on Saturday in Lockwood, Montana.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene opened the outdoor season with a pair of NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks at the Team 4 Titus & Ely Invitational on Saturday in Irvine, California.

• Senior Tyler Shea earned a provisional qualifying time in the men’s 5,000 meters. He won in a time of 14:23.08 that shattered the NNU record by 13 seconds and ranks No. 12 in Division II this season. The effort earned Shea selection as the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week.

• Freshman Miya Koch earned a provisional qualifying mark in the women’s high jump, setting the NNU record with a mark of 5 feet, 6.5 inches. She currently ranks No. 10 in Division II this season.

• Freshman Hunter Braseth was a winner in the men’s 200 meters with a time of 21.92 seconds that leads the GNAC this season.

• Sophomore Kinsey Langin led a top-two sweep for NNU in the women’s pole vault. Langin won with her mark of 11 feet, 5.75 inches while freshman Julie Cheney was second with a clearance of 10 feet, 11.75 inches.

• The Nighthawks took victories in both the men’s and women’s javelin. Freshman Steven Schmidt won for the men with a mark of 168 feet, 11 inches. Schmidt was also second in the high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 7 inches. Freshman Nizhoni Buckway won the women’s competition with a throw of 131 feet, 1 inch.

• Northwest Nazarene returns home this week, hosting the Northwest Nazarene Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s athletes picked up five individual event victories at the Peyton-Shotwell Invitational on Saturday in Tacoma.

• Sophomore Cree Bell led a one-two finish for the Saints in the women’s 100 meters. Bell won in a time of 12.75 seconds while freshman Maddy Vu was second in 12.98 seconds.

• Sophomore Gabriela Cintron won the women’s 100-meter hurdles in 15.35 seconds with sophomore Eden Mortensen taking second in 15.51 seconds. Mortensen also took third in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:08.88.

• Junior Andrew Alfred led three men’s field event victories for the Saints, winning the pole vault with a clearance of 13 feet, 8.25 inches. Freshman Andrew Schulz won the long jump for the first time this season with a mark of 22 feet, 5.25 inches.

• Senior Micah Au-Haupu took the shot put with a mark of 45 feet, 2.25 inches. He also took second in the discus with a mark of 125 feet, 6 inches.

• Sophomore Margaret Zilla took second place in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 32 feet, 3.5 inches. Senior Josh Schulz was third in the men’s portion of the event with a mark of 42 feet, 7 inches.

• Saint Martin’s will not compete this week. The Saints return to action on Saturday, Apr. 9, competing in the Pacific Luau Meet in Forest Grove, Oregon.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific picked up an impressive 12 victories, seven for the women and five for the men, at the Peyton-Shotwell Invitational on Saturday in Tacoma.

• The Falcons swept the gold medals in the 200 and 400 meters. Senior Jenna Bouyer won the women’s 200 in a time of 24.68 seconds. Senior Peace Igbonagwam was second in 24.77 seconds and senior Vanessa Aniteye was third in 25.19 seconds.

• On the men’s side, sophomore Jeff Gordon won the 200 in 22.13 seconds while junior David Njeri was second in 22.14 seconds.

• The women’s 400 meters saw freshman Johanna Brown win in a time of 1:01.80 while sophomore Evan Carpenter won the men’s race in a time of 50.82 seconds.

• The Falcons added a third men’s victory on the track with freshman Isaiah Archer taking the 800 meters in 1:55.61. On the women’s side, freshman McKenzie Fletcher won the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:07.79.

• Seattle Pacific also swept the top-three spots in the women’s pole vault. Senior Madison Licari won with a clearance of 11 feet, 5 inches. Sophomore Lizzy Daugherty was second and freshman Charlie Hill placed third with both clearing 10 feet, 5.25 inches.

• Sophomore Annika Esvelt went under 4:40 in the women’s 1,500 meters for the first time, winning in a time of 4:39.08. Sophomore Ellie Rising was second in 4:45.22 and senior Kelsey Washenberger was third in 4:48.07.

• The Falcons swept the women’s relays with the 4x100-meter relay winning in 47 seconds and the 4x400-meter relay clocking a time of 3:49.64. The men’s 4x400-meter relay was also a winner in a time of 3:26.32.

• Seattle Pacific will head to California’s Central Valley this week, competing in the West Coast Relays on Friday in Clovis.

SIMON FRASER
• A pair of NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks in the men’s javelin and an impressive outdoor debut for freshman Marie-Éloïse Leclair led Simon Fraser’s performances at the UBC Open on Saturday and Sunday in Vancouver, B.C.

• Freshman Garrett Chong and sophomore Bryan Cortes scored the provisional qualifiers in the men’s javelin. Chong became the 26th GNAC athlete to throw over 200 feet, winning with a mark of 203 feet, 1 inch that ranks ninth in Division II this season. Cortes placed second with a mark of 194 feet, 1 inch that ranks 18th in Division II this season.

• Leclair won the women’s 100 meters in a time of 11.88 seconds, a time that ranks her No. 4 on the GNAC all-time list. She just missed the NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time of 11.86 seconds.

• Simon Fraser won just about every women’s track event. Sophomore Emily Lindsay won the 200 meters in 24.88 seconds. Freshman Claire Bosma took first in the 400 meters in 59.27 seconds. Junior Olivia Willett led a top-three sweep in the 800 meters in 2:13.97 and sophomore Diana Voloshin won the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 14.93 seconds.

• Sophomore Paul Buckingham captured the men’s 800 meters in a time of 1:52.15. Freshman Jorrin Lenton took the men’s 400-meter hurdles in a time of 55.15 seconds.

• Freshman Kennedy Primrose won the women’s triple jump with a mark of 37 feet, 3.75 inches. Sophomore Zackary Kuzyk won the men’s long jump with a mark of 23 feet, 0.75 inches.

• Simon Fraser will compete in the Bay Area this weekend, taking part in both the Mike Fanelli Track Classic and the Stanford Invitational.

WESTERN OREGON
• Six event victories and an improvement of senior Austin Goldstein’s NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the men’s javelin led Western Oregon’s efforts at the Willamette Invitational on Saturday in Salem, Oregon.

• Goldstein became the 25th athlete in GNAC history to go over 200 feet in the javelin, winning with a mark of 203 feet, 2 inches that ranks eighth in Division II this season. The performance earned Goldstein selection as the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week.

• Junior Kaylee Wright also improved her NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the women’s javelin, winning with a throw of 149 feet, 5 inches that ranks sixth in Division II this season.

• Senior Ana Popchock added a victory in the women’s triple jump, moving to No. 8 on the WOU all-time list with her winning mark of 37 feet, 6.75 inches. Popchock also placed second in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.31 seconds and third in the 200 meters in 26.27 seconds.

• Senior Bailey Smith led the WOU men on the track, winning the 1,500 meters in a time of 3:57.15. Senior Aaron Hanible made his outdoor season debut by winning the men’s 400-meter hurdles in a time of 56.74 seconds.

• The Wolves swept the gold medals in the shot put. Senior Owen Collins won the men’s shot put with a mark of 46 feet, 8.25 inches, while sophomore Liliana Lyness-Morales won the women’s shot put with a mark of 38 feet, 7 inches.

• Western Oregon multi-event specialists competed in the Adams/Klein Combined Events on Thursday and Friday in Santa Barbara, California. Junior Brennan Sorah placed seventh in the decathlon with a score of 5,650 points. Junior Jenelle Hurley was eighth in the heptathlon with a score of 4,480 points.

• Western Oregon will send some athletes this week to the Bay Area for the Mike Fanelli Track Classic and the Stanford Invitational and others to Eugene for the Hayward Premiere meet.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• A top-four sweep in the men’s 1,500 meters, all in NCAA Championships provisional qualifying times, led Western Washington’s performances at the UBC Open in Vancouver, B.C.

• Senior Calahan Warren led the way, winning the event in a time of 3:46.14 that ranks No. 6 in Division II this season. Freshman Drew Weber was second with his time of 3:47.76, ranking 12th in Division II. Junior Mac Franks was third in a time of 3:48.13 that is 14th in Division II while freshman Kevin McDermott’s fourth-place time of 3:48.46 ranks 17th nationally.

• Freshman Hunter Flick won the men’s 110-meter hurdles in a time of 14.95 seconds. Sophomore Koby Okezie added a second-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles in 55.79 seconds.

• The Vikings also earned victories from sophomore Noah Johnson in the men’s 100 meters in 10.97 seconds and from freshman Damian Mercado in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 44 feet, 3.5 inches.

• In the combined events, sophomore Cooper Cummings placed second in the decathlon with a score of 5,565 points. Sophomore Leanne Kibbee added a fourth-place finish in the heptathlon with a score of 3,687 points.

• The Vikings also sent a small contingent of women’s distance runners to the Aztec Invitational in San Diego. The quartet was led by freshman Mia Crocker, who placed eighth in the 1,500 meters in a time of 4:35.38.

• Western Washington will send a small contingent of athletes to San Francisco on Thursday and Friday for the Mike Fanelli Track Classic. The Vikings will then host the first of two home meets of the season, the WWU Invitational, on Saturday.