Wednesday, March 20, 2019

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Dylan Hayes, Western Washington
Senior • Seattle, Wash.

Hayes was the top Division II finisher in the steeplechase at the L&C Spring Break Open. Hayes placed third in a time 9:25.37. The leading time in the GNAC so far this season, the performance also ranks ninth in Division II.

Also Nominated: Judd Lewis (Concordia), Michael Russell (Saint Martin’s), Justin Crosswhite (Western Oregon).

MEN’S FIELD
Tyler Cronk, Saint Martin’s
Freshman • Kent, Wash.

Cronk went over seven feet in the high jump for the first time in his outdoor collegiate career, winning the high jump at the Doris Heritage Track Festival. His mark of 7 feet, 0.5 inches is an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championships and is No. 2 on the GNAC All-Time List. He leads the nation and is a half-inch short of the GNAC record of 7 feet, 1 inch.

Also Nominated: Easton Christensen (Concordia), Jake Knight (Northwest Nazarene), Cooper McNatt (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Savannah Smith, Western Washington
Senior • Renton, Wash.

Smith won the 400 meters by over a second at the Doris Heritage Track Festival in Seattle. Her winning time of 56.96 seconds leads the GNAC and ranks ninth in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Dalen Richardson (Concordia), Artresa Nickelson (Saint Martin’s), Hailey Sears (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Maddie Taylor, Western Washington
Senior • Seattle, Wash.

Taylor took over as the Division II national leader in the high jump with her victory at the Doris Heritage Track Festival. Taylor won by over three inches with a clearance of 5 feet, 8.5 inches, which is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier. The mark ties her for fifth on the GNAC All-Time List and leads Division II by an inch-and-a-half.

Also Nominated: Katrina Linenko (Concordia), Liz Larson (Saint Martin’s).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage will open the 2019 outdoor season on Saturday, competing in the Willamette Invitational in Salem, Oregon.

• Alaska Anchorage posted the best point total ever for a GNAC team at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. The Seawolves’ women placed fourth with 34 points. The UAA men tied for 52nd place with two points.

• Senior Caroline Kurgat was the high point-scorer in the women’s meet with 32 points thanks to her two national titles. Kurgat won the 3,000 meters in a meet record time of 9:15.45, won the 5,000 meters in a meet-record time of 16:06.37 and anchored the Seawolves’ distance medley relay team. Kurgat was named earlier this week the USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.

• The DMR team of Ruth Cvancara, Vanessa Aniteye, Danielle McCormick and Kurgat placed second with a time of 11:26.00, five seconds behind national champion Adams State. The time was just short of the quartet’s season-best of 11:23.47, which is the sixth-fastest in Division II history.

• The Seawolves’ lone men’s points came from the DMR team of Felix Kemboi, Nathaniel Brunett, Eduardo Orozco and Drew Johnson, which placed seventh in a time of 9:50.04. That performance ranks No. 8 on the GNAC All-Time List.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington split its squad three ways last weekend, sending athletes to the Peyton Scoring Meet in Tacoma, the Doris Heritage Track Festival in Seattle and the EOU Team Challenge in La Grande, Oregon.

• The Wildcats saw its most victories come in the field events at the Doris Heritage Track Festival. Junior Halle Irvine won the long jump with a mark of 17 feet, 3.5 inches, with senior Brooke Williams finishing in a tie for second at 16 feet, 11.5 inches. Junior Brittany Dodge took the shot put with a mark of 37 feet, 1.75 inches. The Wildcat women’s 4x400-meter relay was also a winner in a time of 3:57.62.

• Junior Daniel Calderon placed second in the men’s 400 meters in a time of 49.75 seconds, which currently ranks at the top time in the GNAC this season.

• At the Peyton Scoring Meet, senior Trevaughn Scott won the men’s 400 meters in a time of 50.96 seconds, giving the Wildcats three runners in the GNAC’s top-six in the event. Junior Aidan Cain won the discus with his winning mark of 147 feet, 2 inches.

• At the EOU Team Challenge, sophomore Jasmyne Neria won the women’s 400 meters in a time of 1:00.86, leading a top-three sweep for the GNAC. Junior Doc Porter placed third in both the 200 meters (22.82) and the 400 meters (50.45) to lead the CWU men.

• Central Washington will send its multi-event athletes to Spokane for the Sam Adams Combined Event Invite on Thursday with the rest of the squad competing in the Willamette Invitational on Saturday in Salem, Oregon.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia’s throwers continued another strong start to the season with performances at the L&C Spring Break Open in Portland.

• Senior Easton Christensen picked up an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the men’s javelin. His winning throw of 206 feet, 9 inches is the second throw in the conference over 200 feet this season and ranks him fourth in Division II.

• Sophomore Elizabeth Stottlemyre also picked up a provisional qualifying mark in the women’s javelin, winning with a mark of 139 feet, 1 inch. That is the third-best mark in the GNAC this season and sixth in Division II.

• Junior Caleb Bridge won the men’s discus with a mark of 160 feet, 2 inches, that ranks him second in the GNAC. He also placed second in the hammer with a mark of 160 feet, 11 inches. Sophomore Seth Bridge won the shot put with a mark of 49 feet, 8.25 inches and was second in the discus at 143 feet, 11 inches.

• Junior Joe Denniston earned the win in the men’s hammer with his mark of 177 feet. A season-best, the mark ranks second in the GNAC this season.

• The women’s 4x400-meter relay topped a short roster of Concordia runners competing, placing third in a time of 4:23.94.

• The Concordia men check in at No. 23 in the first USTFCCCA Division II Outdoor Team Index of the season.

• The Cavaliers return to competition on Saturday, taking part in the Willamette Invitational in Salem, Oregon.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
 • Montana State Billings did not advance any competitors to the NCAA Indoor Championships. The Yellowjackets open the outdoor season on Saturday at the Yellow Jacket Spring Open in Spearfish, S.D.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• A pair of school records for senior Jake Knight led Northwest Nazarene’s performances at both the Hornet Invitational and the EOU Team Challenge.

• Competing at the Hornet Invitational, Knight won the discus with a mark of 176 feet, 4 inches. That broke the previous NNU record of 168-3 set by Kevin Rima in 2014. It was also an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark, leads Division II this season and is No. 4 on the GNAC All-Time List. Knight also placed third in the shot put. The mark of 56 feet, 5.25 inches, broke John Van Beuren’s record of 53-9 set in 2018. That is also a provisional qualifying mark, ranking Knight fifth in Division II and fifth on the GNAC All-Time List.

• Two other NNU athletes had top-five finishes against the Division I laden field in Sacramento. Senior Micah Tranch placed fifth in the men’s javelin at 182-10 while junior Jackie Mahowald was fifth in the women’s triple jump with a personal best of 38 feet, 9.5 inches.

• Sophomore Dakota Tidwell led the Nighthawks’ efforts at the EOU Team Challenge. He won the men’s high jump with a mark of 6 feet, 2.75 inches, placed second in the long jump (21-5.25) and third in the 110-meter hurdles (16.55 seconds). He also ran on the NNU 4x400-meter relay team that won in a time of 3:23.86.

• Junior Logan Blake won the men’s 200 meters with a time of 22.33 seconds. Junior Ally Miran led the NNU women as she placed in the 100-meter hurdles in 16 seconds. Sophomore Katie Heckathorn was second in the triple jump (34-6.25).

• The Northwest Nazarene men are No. 21 in the first USTFCCCA Division II Outdoor Team Index of the season.

• The Nighthawks will host their lone meet of the season, the NNU Invitational, on Friday and Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• NCAA Championships qualifying performances for freshman Tyler Cronk and senior Liz Larson led the Saints at the Doris Heritage Track Festival and the Peyton Scoring Meet.

• Competing in Seattle for his first outdoor meet of the season, Cronk won the men’s high jump with a mark of 7 feet, 0.5 inches. The mark is an automatic qualifier for nationals and ties him for first in Division II this season. It also earned Cronk selection as the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week.

• Larson, competing in Tacoma, improved her provisional qualifying mark in the women’s hammer as she won with a mark of 174 feet, 9 inches. That ranks her No. 3 in Division II this season and leads the GNAC by 33 feet.

• Senior Craig Boyle was a winner in the men’s pole vault at the Doris Heritage meet, clearing 15 feet, 5 inches.

• Freshman Micah Au-Haupu joined Larson as a winner in the field events at the Peyton Scoring Meet, winning the shot put with a mark of 43 feet, 7.75 inches. Senior Megan Vernoy placed second in the discus with a mark of 132 feet, 3 inches.

• Saint Martin’s will not compete at a meet this weekend. The Saints’ multi-eventers will return to competition on Mar. 25 and 26 at the Boxer Combined Event in Forest Grove, Oregon.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Outstanding performances in the 1,500 meters led Seattle Pacific as it hosted its only meet of the outdoor season on Saturday, the Doris Heritage Track Festival.

• The women scored a 1-2-3 finish in the 1,500 meters. Junior Kate Lilly led the way with her winning time of 4:35.56. Freshman Kaylee Mitchell was second in 4:37.73 while junior Dania Holmberg was third in 4:39.13.

• Freshman Colby Otero ducked under four minutes in the men’s 1,500 for the first time, placing seventh with a time of 3:59.82.

• Senior Jesse Phan had the Falcon’s best men’s finish, taking second place in the 800 meters with a time of 1:56.77. The time ranks third in the GNAC this season.

• Freshman Krystal Kaufman added a victory in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:15.03.

• Sophomore Renick Meyer won the women’s 100-meter hurdles in a time of 14.74 seconds and took third in the 200 meters in 26.13 seconds. Meyer also ran the leadoff leg on the Falcons’ winning 4x100-meter relay team, which clocked a time of 47.52 seconds.

• The Seattle Pacific opened at No. 15 in the first USTFCCCA Division II Outdoor Team Index of the season.

• A select group of Seattle Pacific athletes will be in action in San Diego this weekend, competing at the Aztec Invitational. It will include the first multi-event competition for the Falcons this season.

SIMON FRASER
• Top-three finishes in the field events led a limited Simon Fraser roster that competed at the Doris Heritage Track Festival on Saturday.

• Sophomore Holly Taylor won the women’s hammer with a mark of 149 feet. The performance is second-best in the GNAC this season.

• Freshman Timothy Hatton took second place in the men’s javelin with a toss of 189 feet, 6 inches. That ranks fourth in the GNAC this season. Freshman Bryan Cortes placed fourth with a toss of 169 feet, 1 inch.

• Freshman Lauren Fridman finished seventh in the women’s javelin with a mark of 123 feet. 5 inches.

• The full Simon Fraser squad is expected to be in action this weekend on Saturday in Salem, Oregon, at the Willamette Invitational.

WESTERN OREGON
• A trio of individual victories led a solid weekend for Western Oregon at the L&C Spring Break Open in Portland.

• Junior Justin Crosswhite led the way as he won the men’s 800 meters in a GNAC season-best time of 1:54.80. Sophomore Trey Reed added a victory in the men’s 400 meters with a time of 50.99 seconds.

• Senior Hailey Sears collected the victory in the 100 meters with a time of 12.90 seconds that ranks sixth in the GNAC.

• Senior Codi Blodgett placed second in both of his races, clocking 11.25 seconds in the men’s 100 meters and 22.41 seconds in the 200 meters. Blodgett ranks third in the GNAC in the 100 and fourth in the 200.

• In the distances, senior Parker Marson led the Wolves with a third-place finish in the men’s 1,500 meters with a time of 3:57.31. The time currently leads the GNAC.

• In the throws, sophomore Moana Gianotti threw a lifetime best of 136 feet, 10 inches in the women’s discus to place third. She moved up to No. 7 on the WOU All-Time List and currently ranks second this season in the GNAC.

• Western Oregon returns to action this weekend at the Willamette Invitational in Salem, Oregon. The Wolves’ multi-eventers will compete on Monday and Tuesday at the Boxer Combined Event in Forest Grove, Oregon.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington saw three GNAC Athlete of the Week worthy performances at both the Doris Heritage Track Festival and the L&C Spring Break Open.

• Senior Maddie Taylor set the WWU record in the women’s high jump at the Doris Heritage meet, winning the event with a clearance of 5 feet, 8.5 inches. That broke a 35-year-old record of 5-8.25 set by Kristy Dees in 1984. The NCAA provisional qualifying mark leads the GNAC, is tied for No. 5 on the GNAC All-Time List and earned Taylor selection as the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week.

• Senior Savannah Smith was selected as the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she won the 400 meters at the Doris Heritage in 56.96 seconds. The time currently leads the GNAC by nearly a second.

• Competing at the L&C Spring Break Open, senior Dylan Hayes won the steeplechase in a time of 9:25.57 to earn GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors. The time ranks first in the GNAC by seven seconds.

• Sophomore Cooper McNatt threw for an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the men’s javelin in Seattle. His winning mark of 195 feet, 10 inches, ranks third in the GNAC and is tied for seventh in Division II.

• Other event winners for the Vikings in the Doris Heritage include sophomore Talia Dreicer in the women’s steeplechase (11:32.96), senior Cordell Cummings in the men’s 110-meter hurdles (14.92), freshman Ethan Sterkel in the men’s long jump (22-9.25) and sophomore Ben Malquist in the men’s shot put (48-10.25). The WWU men also won the 4x400-meter relay in a time of 3:17.62.

• Western Washington is in the top-10 in both of the first USTFCCCA Division II Outdoor Team Index lists of the season. The Vikings’ women rank No. 7 while the men are in at No. 8.

• Western Washington is off this weekend, returning to competition at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic in Hayward, California from Mar. 28-30 and at the UBC Invitational in Vancouver, B.C., on Mar. 30 and 31.