Friday, February 19, 2016

NAMPA, Idaho – After edging out Western Washington to win their first conference indoor track title in 2015, Alaska Anchorage is lining up for a repeat performance at the 2016 GNAC Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championships, which take place Friday and Saturday at the Jacksons Indoor Center.

The Seawolves inched past the Vikings on the meet’s second day, using wins in the distances and the heptathlon and a second place finish in the 4x400-meter relay to record a six-point victory. And while anything is possible in a conference meet, the form chart shows Alaska Anchorage with the potential to build a bigger cushion in 2016.

Ranked No. 10 in the latest USTFCCCA Division II Computer Rankings, the Seawolves will rely on a potent combination of distance performers and multi-event standouts. Senior Cody Thomas, the 2015 Oustanding Performer of the Meet, looks to become just the second four-time men’s champion in meet history. The three-time winner of the heptathlon, Thomas scored 5,324 points in January’s UW Invitational, the third best mark in Division II. He will also contend for titles in the high jump, the 60 meters and the 200 meters.

Sophomore Henry Cheseto aims to become a two-time champion in the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. He owns the conference lead and the seventh best time in Division II in the 5,000 at 14:12.99. He will be challenged in both events, however, by his own teammates. Senior Dominik Notz set the GNAC record in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:10.99 at last week’s UW Open and junior Michel Ramirez is provisionally qualified for nationals in both events.

Western Washington is fourth in the West Region computer rankings as they go for their fourth title in the last five years. The Vikings are led by defending 60-meter hurdles champion Travis Milbrandt. The senior won last year with a GNAC record 8.08 seconds and is tied for 16th nationally this year with a best of 8.13 seconds. Sophomore Isaac Derline owns a provisional qualifying mark in the 5,000 meters while junior Brandon Pless ranks second in the GNAC in shot put and third in the weight throw. He is provisionally qualified for nationals in both events.

Third a year ago, Simon Fraser may stand the best chance of disrupting Alaska Anchorage’s title hopes, returning four individual champions from a year ago. Sophomore Vladislav Tsygankov broke the GNAC long jump record with his leap of 23 feet, 10.75 inches at the January UW Invitational, which stands 17th best in Division II. Junior Joel Webster will defend his 400-meter title and leads the GNAC this season with a best of 48.97 seconds. Senior Cameron Proceviat won the 800 meters last year and is provisionally qualified for nationals with a time of 1:51.79. Sophomore Marc-Antoine Rouleau is provisionally qualified for nationals in the 3,000 meters. His time of 8:11.17 is the third fastest in GNAC history.

In addition to their returning champions, Simon Fraser broke the GNAC record in the distance medley relay at the UW Invitational with the fifth best time in Division II (9:52.97). They are defending champions in both relay disciplines.

Western Oregon is ranked fifth in the West Region computer rankings and has built momentum as of late in the sprints and middle distances. Sophomore Cody Warner is poised to defend his title in the 200 meters. His season best of 21.80 seconds is in the top-40 nationally. He is the only GNAC athlete to go under 22 seconds this season. Senior Badane Sultessa, the 2015 outdoor champion in the 800 meters, looks to add an indoor plaque to his trophy case. His GNAC record of 1:49.95 at last weekend’s Husky Classic is the seventh fastest time in Division II. Sophomore Kaleb Dobson owns the second best mark this season in the 60-meter hurdles at 8.30 seconds.

Sophomore David Ribich leads the GNAC in the mile, having set personal bests three times in the last two weeks. His time of 4:07.83 last weekend is eighth best in GNAC history and 14th best in Division II. Teammate Sam Naffziger is right behind with a time of 4:09.20, 23rd best in Division II. The Wolves will also challenge in the distance medley relay. Their time of 9:52.97, fifth best in Division II, is the second fastest in GNAC history.

Northwest Nazarene holds the home field advantage. The championships host, all six of their meets this season have been at the Jacksons Indoor Center. Sophomore Payton Lewis thrilled the home crowd with his title last year in the men’s pole vault. He is tied for fourth in Division II this season and has automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships, having already cleared 16 feet, 10.75 inches. Lewis will also contend for titles in the heptathlon and the 60-meter hurdles.

Junior Zach McClanahan could give NNU a one-two finish in the pole vault as he sits second in the event at 15 feet, 5 inches. Junior Cole Hoberg will compete for the title in the high jump. His season best of 6 feet, 8.75 inches ties him for 20th in Division II.

Central Washington returns one champion in junior Luke Plummer. The two-time champion in the triple jump, Plummer enters the meet with the 20th best mark in Division II at 48 feet, 6 inches. He will also figure into the scoring in the long jump. Senior Kent McKinney is the current GNAC leader in the 60 meters at 6.95 seconds. He lost last year’s championship to Western Washington’s Alex Donigian by .01 seconds.

Sophomore Armando Tafoya owns the conference’s second best mark in the weight throw with a NCAA provisional qualifier of 58 feet, 9.5 inches. He is also fourth in the shot put with an effort of 49 feet, 10 inches.

A well-established track program before joining the GNAC, Concordia stands ready to sweep the conference titles in the throwing events. Junior Tyler Lamott became just the second conference athlete to go over 60 feet in the weight throw. His mark of 60 feet, 8 inches at the Husky Classic is the 16th best in Division II. Sophomore Josh Koch leads the GNAC by three feet with his best of 55 feet, 7.75 inches in the shot put, which is 17th best in Division II.

Junior Carlos Ortiz will figure into the mix in the sprints with the fourth best time in the league in the 200 meters (22.13 seconds) and the sixth best in the 60 meters (7.02 seconds). Freshman Paris Speidel is fifth in the GNAC in the 800 meters (1:53.26) and senior Austin Collins is seventh (1:53.98).

Junior Mikel Smith leads Saint Martin’s with the conference’s best and the 10th best mark in Division II in the high jump with a provisional qualifier of 6 feet, 10.75 inches. The performance ties him for 10th best in Division II. Junior Latrelle Swayne is tied for second fastest in the GNAC in the 60 meters (6.97 seconds) while freshman Jackson Hand is eighth best in the 200 meters (22.51 seconds).

Montana State Billings’ best chance for scoring will come in the distance events. Senior Robert Peterson enters with the fifth best time in the mile with a converted mark of 4:14.42. He will also figure into the top-eight in the 3,000 meters. The Yellowjackets also own a NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the distance medley relay with a converted time of 10:01.98.

Sophomore Peyton Harris leads Seattle Pacific. He enters the meet with the fifth best mark in the GNAC in the long jump (22-5.75) and the seventh best mark in the 60-meter hurdles (8.52 seconds). Senior Turner Wiley will double in both the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters and currently has the conference’s seventh best mark in the 5,000 (14:56.77).