Thursday, May 7, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. -   A total of 22 past champions will compete in the 14th annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships Friday and Saturday at McArthur Stadium on the campus of Western Oregon University in Monmouth.

Based on entry marks, Alaska Anchorage is a narrow favorite to win its  third straight women’s team title over six-time champion Seattle Pacific. 

UAA edged both Western Washington and Northwest Nazarene by four points and SPU by 16 last season.  Projected scores have the Seawolves, who scored 23 points last week in the heptathlon, six points ahead of SPU, which netted nine points in the multi-event

Both the Seawolves and Falcons are projected to score twice as many points as any other team in the field.

On the men’s side, Alaska Anchorage – on paper - has a projected 45 1/2 point lead over three-time defending champion Western Washington.  

Central Washington  trails WWU by 24 ½ points and Simon Fraser trails CWU by seven in the pre-meet team scores.

Five men are already multi past champions including Northwest Nazarene’s Rimar Christie who will be seeking his fourth straight 100 meter title.

No man in meet history has accomplished that feat, though Western Oregon’s Mike Hinshaw won two PacWest titles in 2000 and 2001 before taking titles in the first two seasons of the GNAC in 2002 and 2003.

Seeking their third wins in the same event are WWU’s Logan Myers in the 110 hurdles, UAA’s Elliott Bauer in the 400 hurdles, WWU’s Brett Watson in the high jump and Franz Burghagen of Alaska Anchorage in the javelin.

Christie, Myers and Watson will have to get by athletes who have set GNAC records this spring to win their events.

WWU’s Alex Donigian has run a 10.22 wind-aided mark in the 100 and  ranks third on the Division II TFRRS performance list with a 10.27.  Christie is the fourth seed with a time of 10.65.

Myers will have to defeat teammate Travis Milbrandt who has run a GNAC-record 14.30.  Myers is the No. 2 seed with a best this spring of 14.56.

Watson will be up against GNAC Indoor and Outdoor record holder Mikel Smith of Saint Martin’s who has an outdoor best of 6-10 ¾.  Watson’s best this spring is 6-8 ¼.

Donigian, Milbrandt and Smith are among four male athletes to set GNAC records this spring.  WWU’s Ryan Macdonald, the defending discus champion, has also established a GNAC record this spring in his event (177-5).

Other past men’s champions include Simon Fraser’s Scott Commandeur (800) and Oliver Jorgensen (steeplechase); Alaska Anchorage’s Dylan Anthony (5,000) and Victor Samoei (10,000);  Saint Martin’s Joseph Keeton who was the 2013 pole vault champion; and CWU’s Luke Plummer (triple jump) and Kevin Stanley (hammer).

Three women will be seeking to repeat in two different events. Alaska Anchorage’s Jamie Ashcroft is the defending champion in both the 100 and 200.  UAA’s Haleigh Lloyd won the 100 hurdles in 2012 and the 400 hurdles in 2013 and Katelyn Steen of Western Washington swept the 5,000 and steeplechase last year.

Both Lloyd (59.20 in 400 hurdles) and Steen (10:13.01 in steeplechase) have set GNAC records this spring and Steen’s time ranks second in NCAA Division II.

Two other women also rank among the best in Division II.  Simon Fraser’s Lindsey Butterworth is the national leader in the 800 (2:04.11 last Saturday at Stanford) and ranks second in the 1500 (4:18.34).  Her 800 time qualifies her to represent Canada in the World University Games.

She won the latter event in the 2012 GNAC meet, but will skip the 1500 and concentrate on the 800 this weekend.

WWU’s Katie Reichert, who is the defending  champion in the javelin, ranks third in Division II with a season-best of 165-7.

Other past champions  include GNAC heptathlon champion Karolin Anders of Alaska Anchorage in the high jump, Alison Silva of Northwest Nazarene in the pole vault, Corrie Holm of MSU Billings in the discus and Rebecca Laible of Western Oregon in the triple jump.

GNAC Has 25 Top 10 Marks on TFRRS

Simon Fraser’s Lindsey Butterworth improved her national leading mark in the 800 meters by 1.75 seconds in running a 2:04.11 last Saturday at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford.   She also is ranked second in the 1500 meters (4:18.34) in the latest NCAA Division II TFRRS rankings.

GNAC athletes currently have 25 performances that rank in the Top 10 on TFRRS including two each by Butterworth, SFU’s Cameron Proceviat (800, 1500) and UAA’s Dominik Notz (5K, 10K) and Henry Cheseto (5K, 10K).

Other athletes with two Top 10 marks include Shannon Porter of Saint Martin’s (5K, 10K), Western Washington Katelyn Steen (5K, steeplechase) and Saint Martin’s Shannon Porter (5K, 10K).

In this week’s USTFCCCA Computer team rankings, four GNAC teams are ranked. 

UAA’s men are ranked 16th and its women are ranked 23rd.  Simon Fraser’s women are ranked 12th and Western Washington’s women are ranked 20th.

Following is a list of GNAC athletes in this week’s TFRRS Top 10:

Men: 100 – 3. *Alex Donigian, WWU, 10.27.  800 – 5. Cameron Proceviat, SFU, 1:49.64.  1500 – 10. Cameron Proceviat, SFU, 3:47.09.  5000 – 5. Dominik Notz, UAA, 14:07.05; 9. Henry Cheseto, UAA, 14:08.86. 10,000 – 2. Dominik Notz, UAA, 29:26.29; 9. Henry Cheseto, UAA, 29:49.06.  Pole Vault – 7. Payton Lewis, NNU, 5.15 – 16-10 ¾.  Discus – 6. Ryan Macdonald, WWU, 54.07 – 177-5.   Javelin – 2. Franz Burghagen, UAA, 68.52 – 224-10; 8. Cody Parker, UAA, 64.63 – 212-0. (Note: *Donigian has a best of 10.22, but since wind-speed exceed 4.0, NCAA does not recognize it for qualifying purposes).

Women: 800 – 1. Lindsey Butterworth, SFU, 2:04.11; 5. Lynelle Decker, SPU, 2:08.13.  1500 – 2. Lindsey Butterworth, SFU, 4:18.34.  5000 – 4. Jennifer Johnson, SFU, 16:26.59; 9. Katelyn Steen, WWU, 16:35.53; 10. Shannon Porter, SMU, 16:37.99.  10,000 – 6. Amy Johnston, UAA, 35:01.46; 8. Shannon Porter, SMU, 35:05.97.  400 Hurdles – 4. Haleigh Lloyd, UAA, 59.20.  Steeplechase – 2. Katelyn Steen, WWU, 10:13.01.  Pole Vault – 10. McKenna Emmert, CWU, 3.83 – 12-6 ¾.  Javelin – 3. Katie Reichert, WWU, 50.48 – 165-7; 7. Kalli Walker, SMU, 47.36 – 155-4. Heptathlon – 8. Karolin Anders, UAA, 5162.

Eight New Qualifying Marks Set

Eight new NCAA provisional qualifying marks were set last weekend in meets at Palo Alto, Boise, Lacey and Corvallis.

In addition GNAC athletes had six performances that rank on the GNAC All-Time Top 10 lists.  

NATIONAL QUALIFYING MARKS (GNAC Top 10 Ranks): Men: 800 – 8. Badane Sultessa, WOU, 1:51.13. Javelin – Cody Parker, UAA, 65.16 – 213-9.  Women:  800 – 1. Lindsey Butterworth, SFU, 2:04.11; Paige Nock, SFU, 2:12.10. Steeplechase - +Susanna Fleming, NNU, 11:10.97. 110 Hurdles – 7. +Chelsey Knott, NNU, 14.26.  Shot Put – 4. **Kirby Neale, SMU, 14.24 – 46-8 ¾. Hammer – 9. +Caitlin Curtis, NNU, 51.80 – 169-11 (All marks at Mt. Hood except where noted:  *Palo Alto, +Boise **Lacey ++Corvallis).

Non-National Qualifying GNAC Top 10s: Women: 4x100 Relay – 10. +Northwest Nazarene, 47.55.  (+at Boise).

GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

MEN: Track – Badane  Sultessa, Western Oregon (Jr., Portland, OR – Clackamas CC) finished second overall in the 800 meters at the Mt. Hood Track Festival in a provisional national qualifying time of 1:51.13.  That time ranks fourth in Western Oregon track-and-field history and is eighth on the GNAC All-Time Top 10 list.  Field – Cody Parker, Alaska Anchorage (Jr., Comox, BC) had the eighth longest javelin throw this spring in NCAA Division II in the Oregon State High Performance Invitational with a throw of 213-9.  He finished second overall and was first among collegians.

WOMEN: Track – Lindsey Butterworth, Simon Fraser (Sr., North Vancouver, BC - Handsworth)  finished fourth in her heat of the 800 meters at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto Saturday in a time of 2:04.11.  The time was not only the fastest in NCAA Division II this spring but also qualified her to represent Canada in the World University Games.  It also ranks second in GNAC history.  Field – Kirby Neale, Saint Martin’s (Jr., Coos Bay - Marshfield)  won the shot at the Saint Martin’s Last Chance Qualifier with a provisional national qualifying put of 46-8 3/4. That mark ranks fourth in GNAC history.

LAST WEEK’S GNAC OUTDOOR T&F RESULTS

Saint Martin’s Invitational (May 2 at Lacey):  Men – Saint Martin’s 183, Central Washington 117, Seattle Pacific 106, Olympic 67, Green River CC 52, Western Washington 42, British Columbia 20, Northwest Nazarene 17, Puget Sound 15, Club Northwest 4, Christ Life TC 2.  GNAC Winners: 100 – David Ferguson, SPU, 11.16.  200 – Mario Lopez, SPU, 22.69.  400 – Frank Krause, SMU, 50.09. 1500 – Kaleb Javier, CWU, 4:00.34. 5000 – Dylan Darlington, CWU, 15:45.83.  110 Hurdles – Peyton Harris, SPU, 15.61.  400 Hurdles – Ty Sissel, SMU, 55.95.  4x100 Relay – Seattle Pacific 42.49.  4x400 Relay – Central Washington 3:35.93.  High Jump – Mikel Smith, SMU, 2.00.  Pole Vault – Andrew Andrada, SMU, 4.68.  Long Jump – Rudy Mataya, WWU, 6.64. Triple Jump – Brian McElroy, CWU, 13.28.   Shot Put – Mitch Wilkens,, SMU, 14.61.  Discus – Mitch Wilkens, SMU, 44.31.  Hammer – Vincent Fualefau, SMU, 51.05.  Javelin – Brian Chalkley, SMU, 58.00.   Women - Central Washington 145, Seattle Pacific 145, Saint Martin’s 136, Olympic 73, Western Washington 46, Northwest 40, Christ Life TC 20, Green River CC 15, Puget Sound 10, British Columbia 6.  GNAC Winners:  800 – Lynelle Decker, SPU, 2:12.25. 1500 – Shannon Porter, SMU, 4:35.32.   100 Hurdles – Tianna Banfro, CWU, 14.88. 400 Hurdles – Megan Teigen, SMU, 1:02.88.  Steeplechase – Natalie  Bergstrom, CWU, 11:57.16.  4x100 – Seattle Pacific 47.09.  Pole Vault – Anna Paradee, WWU, 3.53. Long Jump – Tasia Baldwin, SPU, 5.27.  Triple Jump – Kelly Cronic, CWU, 10.94.  Shot Put – Kirby Neale, SMU, 14.24.  Discus – Kahili Novikoff, SMU, 40.48.  Hammer – Angel Rodgers, SMU, 48.78.  Javelin – Kalli Walker, SMU, 43.13.

Oregon State High Performance (April 30-May 1 at Corvallis): Men (Top 3): 100 -  2. Cody Warner, WOU, 10.68.  400 – 3. Adam Commandeur, UAA, 48.28. 800 Invitational – 3. Cameron Proceviat, SFU, 1:51.85. 1500 – 1. Ephraim Tadesse, SFU, 3:59.92. 110 Hurdles – 2. Kaleb Dobson, WOU, 15.35.  Javelin – 2. Cody Parker, UAA, 65.16 – 213-9; 3. Justin Larson, WOU, 61.06 – 200-4. Women (Top 3): 800 – 2. Kayla Lennea, SFU, 2:18.36. 1500 – 2. Miryam Bassett, SFU, 4:42.16, Shot Put – 3. Emmi Collier, WOU, 13.31 – 43-8.

Mt. Hood Track Festival (May 2 at Gresham):  Men (GNAC Winners): 100 – Darrion Gray, UAA, 10.99.  200 – Darrion Gray, UAA, 22.34. 400 – Adam Commandeur, UAA, 48.90.   400 Hurdles – Elliott Bauer, UAA, 53.83. 4x100 Relay – Alaska Anchorage 42.22.  Women  (GNAC Winners): 100 – Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 11.82.  200 – Jamie Ashcroft, UAA, 25.01. 800 – Paige Knock, SFU, 2:12.10. 100 Hurdles – Rosie Smith, UAA, 14.25.  400 Hurdles – Laura Knudson, WOU, 1:05.16.  Steeplechase – Nicole Anderson, WOU, 12:06.13.  4x100 Relay – Alaska Anchorage 47.63. Triple Jump – Rebecca Laible, WOU, 11.68 – 38-4.

Idaho/Utah Border Clash (May 2 at Boise):   Men (Top 3): Steeplechase – 3. Michael Gordon, NNU, 9:54.52. High Jump – 3. Cole Hoberg, NNU,  2.05 – 6-8 ¾.   Pole Vault – 3. Payton Lewis, NNY, 5.00 – 16-4 ¾.  Women (Top 3): 100 Hurdles – 3. Chelsey Knott, NNU, 14.26. 4x100 Relay – 3. Northwest Nazarene 47.55. 

Montana Open (May 1-2 at Missoula): Men (Top 3): 400 – Nathan Vanderby, MSUB, 49.12. 1500 – 3. Robert Peterson, MSUB, 4:00.30. 4x100 Relay – 3. MSU Billings 42.83.  4x400 Relay – 3. MSU Billings 3:26.17. Women (Top 3): 1500 – 3. Nocona Frame, MSUB, 4:52.28.  10,000 – 3. Jinise Osborne, MSUB, 40:54.78. 4x400 Relay – MSU Billings 4:14.02. 

Stanford Payton Jordan Invitational: Women: 800 – 10. Lindsey Butterworth, SFU,  2:04.11. 

GNAC WEEKLY (PDF format)