Wednesday, January 18, 2017

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
David Ribich, Western Oregon
Junior • Enterprise, Ore.

Competing in the same section at the UW Preview as 1,500 Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz, Ribich hit a provisional qualifying mark for the NCAA Championships in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:13.94. The time not only leads the conference and ranks fifth in Division II, but is also a Western Oregon school record and the fifth fastest mark in GNAC history.

Also Nominated: Andrew Wise (Western Washington), Daniel Kelloway (Simon Fraser), Isaac Mitchell (Northwest Nazarene), Sam Zook (Montana State Billings).

MEN’S FIELD
Brandon Pless, Western Washington
Senior • Sedro-Woolley, Wash.

Pless hit GNAC-leading marks in both throwing events at the UW Preview. He finished with a mark 50 feet, 5.25 inches in the second flight of the shot put and then placed fifth in the weight throw with a mark of 53 feet, 11.25 inches. He was the top NCAA Division II competitor in both events.

Also Nominated: Jared Webster (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Mary Charleson, Seattle Pacific
Junior • Mill Creek, Wash.

Charleson ran a pair of NCAA Championships provisional qualifying times at the UW Preview. She won section three of the mile with a time of 4:58.95, which leads the GNAC and is No. 4 in Division II this season. The performance was a 12-second personal best. Charleson also won section two of the 3,000 meters (her first ever indoor 3,000-meter race) in a time of 9:48.85. That also leads the GNAC and is No. 6 in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Suzanne Van de Grift (Western Oregon), Brittany Grant (Western Washington), Chantel Desch (Simon Fraser), Sierra Manzer (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S FIELD
McKenzie Warren, Concordia
Senior • Sandy, Ore.

Warren opened the indoor season by winning the shot put at the UW Preview. Her mark of 54 feet, 8 inches not only leads Division II, but is the seventh best mark this season in all NCAA divisions. Warren also placed third in her flight of the weight throw with a mark of 53 feet, 3.75 inches.

Also Nominated: Anna Paradee (Western Washington), Hannah Thomas (Northwest Nazarene).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• The defending GNAC men’s and women’s champions opened the season by competing at the UW Preview in Seattle on Saturday and left with four NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers.

• Senior Joe Day notched the second fastest time in Division II in the men’s 800 meters with a time of 1:52.07, sitting just behind Western Oregon’s Josh Dempsey.

• Senior Dominik Notz opened the year by placing 11th in the competitive third section of the men’s 3,000 meters. His time is 8:14.19 was a provisional qualifier and is sixth in Division II to date and is sixth fastest in GNAC history.

• The Seawolves had two provisional qualifiers in the 400 meters. Senior Adam Commandeur ran 48.60 seconds in the men’s 400, which is 13th best in Division II. Senior Mary Kathleen Cross is 10th in Division II after she ran 56.86 seconds in the women’s 400.

• Senior Jamie Ashcroft leads the GNAC and is 13th in Division II in the women’s 200 meters after running a time of 25.02 seconds. She also ran 7.74 seconds in the preliminaries of the 60 meters, the second best time in the conference to date.

• Sophomore Danielle McCormick is tops in the GNAC women’s 800 meters after running a time of 2:15.68, winning section two of the event. Junior Tamara Perez is second in the event after running 2:16.63 in section two.

• The Seawolves will return to competition at the Dempsey Indoor Center on Jan. 27 & 28, competing in the two-day UW Invitational.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• A limited number of Wildcats’ athletes took part in the Vandal Invitational in Moscow, Idaho.

• Junior Ali Anderson won the pentathlon with a score of 3,207 points. She had the top marks in the competition in the long jump (17-1.5) and the 800 meters (2:20.87).

• Junior HarLee Ortega placed third in the pentathlon with a score of 2,922 points. She tied for first in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 0.5 inches. Ortega owns the a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and is 17th in Division II with her score of 3,311 points at the Dec. 3 Candy Cane Invitational.

• Senior Armando Tafoya placed fourth in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 52 feet, 4.75 inches, and was fifth in the shot put with a mark of 48 feet, 10.25 inches. Junior Aiyana Homer tied for third in the women’s shot put with her mark of 40 feet, 0.5 inches.

• Senior Kodiak Landis owns NCAA Championship provisional qualifying marks in both the men’s heptathlon and the 60 meters. Landis scored 5,143 points in the heptathlon at the Dec. 3 Candy Cane Invitational (currently No. 5 in Division II) and ran 6.83 seconds at the Dec. 8 Jackson’s Open (tied for 10th in Division II).

•  Senior Luke Plummer also has a provisional qualifying mark in the men’s triple jump with his mark of 48 feet, 10.25 inches at the Jackson’s Open on Dec. 9 (10th in Division II).

• Senior McKenna Emmert is also provisionally qualified in the women’s pole vault. Her mark of 12 feet, 1.5 inches at the December Jackson’s Open in tied for sixth in Division II and is ninth best in GNAC history.

• The full Wildcats’ squad will compete this weekend in Pullman, Wash., at the WSU Open on Friday and Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia opened it’s indoor season at the UW Preview in Seattle. As usual, the Cavaliers’ efforts were led by throwers.

• Senior McKenzie Warren was named the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week and the USTFCCCA Division II Women’s Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week after she won the shot put at the UW Preview. Warren finished with a mark of 54 feet, 8 inches, which leads Division II and is seventh best in all NCAA divisions.

• Senior Christina MacDonald placed second in the second flight of the women’s weight throw with a mark of 54 feet, 10 inches. The mark is best in the GNAC, 25th best in Division II and is the fifth best mark in GNAC history.

• Caleb Bridge won the first flight of the men’s shot put with his mark of 48 feet, 3.5 inches. Sam Nichols was second in the same flight at 47 feet, 9.75 inches. Tasha Willings made her mark in the women’s weight throw as well, winning flight one with a mark of 53 feet, 2.25 inches.

• In the running events, Adam Brown placed third in section three in the men’s 400 meters with a time of 50.29 seconds. The men’s 4x400 relay team won the first section with a time of 3:24.94.

• Concordia returns to action on Saturday, competing at the Bronco Invitational in Nampa, Idaho.

• Concordia is in the third year of its transition to Division II member. As such, the Cavaliers are not eligible to compete at the NCAA Championships.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings took part in its first competition of 2017, participating in the Montana State University Open in Bozeman.

• The Yellowjackets saw three school records fall in the meet. Junior Sam Zook won the men’s 60-meters in a school record time of 6.94 seconds. It is the third best time in GNAC and No. 10 in GNAC history.

• Senior Austin Lindquist broke the MSUB record in the men’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.76 seconds. He went on to finish second in the long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 10.25 inches.

• Junior Nels Flanagan broke his own school record in the men’s weight throw, placing second with a mark of 52 feet, 4.75 inches.

• In the distances, senior Garrett Love ran the GNAC’s best time in the men’s 5,000 meters this season with a time of 17:06.65. The men’s distance medley relay team ran a time of 12:42.95. The altitude-converted time of 12:23.55 not only leads the GNAC, but is also sixth in Division II. The women’s distance medley relay placed third in a time of 12:42.95.

• The Yellowjackets return to action on Saturday, competing at the Dave Little Alumni Meet in Spearfish, S.D.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene enjoyed it’s second “home meet” of the season, competing in the Ed Jacoby Invitational at the Jackson’s Track in Nampa, Idaho.

• Junior Jared Webster notched a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the men’s pole vault, placing third with a mark of 15 feet, 11 inches. The performance is tied for 15th best in Division II this season.

• Junior Isaac Mitchell ran the GNAC’s top time this season in the men’s mile, placing fifth in a time of 4:18.68. Sophomore Sierra Manzer placed second in the women’s 3,000 meters with a time of 10:31.99.

• The Crusaders had two solid performances in the high jump. Senior Cole Hoberg placed second in the men’s high jump with his mark of 6 feet, 5 inches. Rachel Miller placed third in the women’s high jump with her mark of 5 feet. 2.5 inches.

• Junior Payton Lewis did not compete last week, but has already earned a NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the pole vault. Lewis went 16 feet, 6,75 inches at December’s Jackson’s Open, which ranks fourth in Division II.

• Northwest Nazarene is back to competition in Nampa on Saturday, taking part in the Bronco Invitational.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• A full Saints’ contingent posted a number of solid marks at the Vandal Invitational on Thursday and Friday in Moscow, Idaho.

• Saint Martin’s had two individual event winners. Senior Shannon Porter won the women’s 3,000 meters in a time of 10:05.52. The time is sixth best in the GNAC this season. Sophomore Alexi Whatley won the women’s 200 meters in 26.39 seconds.

• Senior Mikel Smith concentrated on sprints, placing third in the men’s 200 meters in 22.97 seconds and fifth in the 400 meters in 51.90 seconds. Smith already owns a provisional qualifier in the high jump. His mark of 7 feet, 0.25 inches at the Jackson’s Open is second best in Division II this season and just short of his lifetime best and GNAC record of 7 feet, 0.5 inches.

• In the sprints, Latrelle Swayne placed fourth in the men’s 60 meters in 7.14 seconds. Grace Hamre placed third in the women’s 200 meters in a time of 26.51 seconds.

• The Saints also had two second place finishes in the weight throw. Senior Kirby Neale was second in the women’s weight throw with a mark of 52 feet, 10.75 inches. She ranks third in GNAC this season. Senior Mitch Wilkens was second in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 52 feet, 7.5 inches.

• Saint Martin’s will be off this weekend, returning to competition on Fri., Jan. 27 and Sat., Jan. 28, at the UW Invitational in Seattle.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• The Falcons opened the season by collecting five NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks at the UW Preview.

• Junior Mary Charleson was named the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after earning provisional qualifying marks in two distance events. She won the first section of the mile in 4:58.95, which is the fourth best time in Division II this season. She also won her section of the 3,000 meters in 9:48.95, which is sixth best in Division II.

• Senior Sarah Macdonald also earned a provisional qualifying mark in the women’s 3,000 meters. Her time of 10:00.86 is the 19th best in Division II this season.

• Sophomore Geneva Lehnert finished fourth in her flight of the women’s high jump with a NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 5 feet, 5 inches. The performance leads the GNAC and is tied for 18th in Division II.

• Senior Kyra Brannon was second in her flight of the women’s long jump with a mark of 18 feet, 6.5 inches. The performance was a NCAA provisional qualifier, leads the GNAC and is tied for 19th in Division II.

• The Falcons are off this weekend, returning to competition at the UW Invitational on Jan. 27 and 28.

SIMON FRASER
• The first meet of the season was a good one for Simon Fraser with the Clan yielding four NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers and four GNAC bests at the UW Preview.

• Senior Chantel Desch led the provisional qualifiers, placing second in her section of the women’s 400 meters in a time of 56.70 seconds. The time leads the GNAC and is ninth in Division II this season.

• Senior Daniel Kelloway leads the GNAC in the men’s 400 meters. He placed second in his section with a time of 48.46 seconds, which is 10th in Division II.

• The Clan earned a pair provisional qualifiers in the 3,000 meters. Senior Marc-Antoine Rouleau ran the 12th fastest time in Division II this season in the men’s 3,000 in 8:24.01. Junior Julia Howley has the 14th best time in the women’s 3,000 as she ran 9:58.27.

• Freshman Katherine Lucas had a great debut in the sprints. She won her preliminary heat of the women’s 60 meters in 7.72 seconds, which leads the GNAC. She also placed second in her section of the 200 meters with a time of 25.24 seconds, which is second best in the GNAC.

• Three other SFU women’s athletes won their flights. Sophomore Valda Kabia won her flight of the 60 meters in 7.79 seconds and then clocked 7.77 seconds in the semifinals. Freshman Diana Voloshin won her flight of the 200 meters in 26.37 seconds while junior Paige Nock won her flight of the mile in 5:05.41.

• Sophomore Jordan Wilson also won his section of the men’s mile in a time of 4:26.22. The time is fourth best in the GNAC this season.

• The Clan is off this weekend. They will return to action on Jan. 27 and 28 at the UW Invitational.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon opened its season by competing at the UW Preview in Seattle, which yielded the Wolves a pair of NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers.

• Junior David Ribich was named the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after his performance in the fast section of the 3,000 meters. In a heat that featured Olympic 1,500-meter champion Matthew Centrowitz, Ribich ran a time of 8:13.94. The performance leads the GNAC, is a NCAA provisional qualifier and is fifth best in Division II this season and fifth best in GNAC history.

• Junior Josh Dempsey leads the nation in the men’s 800 meters. He ran the NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:51.35. The time is also fourth best in GNAC history.

• Senior Kennedy Rufener won her flight of the women’s 3,000 meters in a time of 10:21.89. Freshman Rachel Bayly opened her collegiate career by placing second in her section of the 200 meters, clocking 29.42 seconds.

• Senior Aaron Whitaker was Western Oregon’s only other top-three placer, taking second in his section of the men’s 400 meters in a time of 49.30 seconds.

• Western Oregon will be off this weekend. They return to action on Jan. 27 and 28 at the UW Invitational.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Three NCAA Championships provisional qualifiers and the GNAC’s Men’s Field Athlete of the Week led the Vikings’ efforts at the UW Preview in Seattle.

• Junior Brandon Pless was named the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he posted two GNAC-leading performances. He went 50 feet, 5.25 inches in the shot put and 53 feet, 11.25 inches in the weight throw.

• Sophomore Anna Paradee notched a NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the women’s pole vault. She cleared 12 feet, 0.75 inches, which ranks eighth in Division II this season.

• Senior Brittany Grant got off to a strong start with her time of 9:56.22 in the women’s 3,000 meters. The NCAA provosional qualifying performance is second best in the GNAC this season and 10th in Division II.

• Senior Andrew Wise also earned a provisional qualifying mark in the men’s 3,000 meters. His time of 8:23.18 is third in the GNAC and 11th in Division II.

• Senior Megan Mortensen had the second best performance in school history in the women’s weight throw with her distance of 48 feet, 6.25. She is just two inches shy of the school record. Sophomore Sophia Roberts had the third best performance in school history in the event at 42 feet, 7 inches.

• Western Washington will sit out from competition this weekend and will compete next at the UW Invitational on Jan. 27 and 28 in Seattle.