Friday, February 19, 2016

NAMPA, Idaho – Alaska Anchorage’s strength in the distances, led by the top-five finishers in the 5,000 meters, allowed the Seawolves to take the lead in the team competition Friday after the first day of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Jacksons Track at the Ford Idaho Center.

The Seawolves scored 33 of their 39 points in the 5,000 meters. Dominik Notz edged out teammate and defending champion Henry Cheseto to win his first GNAC indoor title in a meet record time of 14:36.46. Cheseto also finished his former meet record in second at 14:36.51. Edwin Kangogo placed third in 14:57.63 followed by Michel Ramirez (15:00.16) and Victor Samoei (15:07.50).

Western Washington stands in second with 31 points while Simon Fraser is third with 21 points. Newcomer Concordia enters Saturday in fourth with 18 points.

The Clan’s Vladislav Tsygankov repeated as long jump champion, setting a GNAC and conference meet record with his mark of 24 feet, 2.5 inches. Concordia’s Tyler Lamott also set a meet record in the men’s weight throw, finshing just short of the GNAC record with his mark of 61 feet, 1.75 inches.

Montana State Billings rallied in the final two laps to win their first distance medley relay title with a time of 10:06.41, finishing just a second ahead of Simon Fraser and two seconds ahead of Alaska Anchorage. The team of Josh Panasuk, Landon Polkow, Liam McKay and Robert Peterson claimed just the Yellowjackets’ fourth indoor individual event title.

Defending 800-meter champion Cameron Proceviat of Simon Fraser cruised in his preliminary heat to advance to Saturday’s final, leading with a time of 1:52.41. Western Washington’s Travis Milbrandt also earned the top preliminary time in his defense of the 60-meter hurdles crown with a time of 8.30 seconds.

Simon Fraser’s Joel Webster was the qualifier in his defense of the 400-meter championship with a time of 48.62, but had two athletes on his heels. Western Oregon’s Aaron Whitaker ran the ninth fastest time in GNAC history in 49.09 seconds while Alaska Anchorage’s Liam Lindsay moved into No. 10 on the all-time list with his time of 49.11 seconds.

Western Oregon’s Cody Warner was the top qualifier in the 60 meters with a time of 6.91 seconds. Concordia’s Carlos Ortiz was close behind in 6.95 seconds, moving into No. 9 on the GNAC all-time list. Warner is also the top qualifier in the 200 meters with a time in 21.89 seconds. Alaska Anchorage’s Cody Thomas ran 21.99 seconds in his preliminary heat, ranking him No. 9 on the GNAC all-time list.

Alaska Anchorage’s Travis Turner is the leader after the first day of the heptathlon with 2,731 points, while Northwest Nazarene’s Payton Lewis is close behind in second with 2,717 points. Lewis won the men’s long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 10.75 inches.

The second day of competition begins at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday with the heptathlon 60-meter hurdles. Running events will commence at 11:25 a.m. Field event finals will be contested in the shot put, triple jump and pole vault.

TEAM SCORES: Alaska Anchorage 39, Western Washington 31, Simon Fraser 21, Concordia 18, Central Washington 14, Montana State Billings 10, Seattle Pacific 9, Northwest Nazarene 7, Western Oregon 4, Saint Martin’s 3.