Monday, May 14, 2018

NEW ORLEANS – After an exciting GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships that saw a number of meet records fall, a total of 62 conference athletes have been named as NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field All-West Region performers by the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Concordia led all conference teams with 12 all-region selections, which included seven men’s honorees. All but one of the Cavaliers’ selections were in the throws, led by Jakob Chamberlin in the men’s discus and hammer, Melissa Ausman in the women’s shot put and discus, Christina MacDonald in the women’s shot put and hammer and Tasha Willing in the women’s shot put and hammer. Central Washington and Seattle Pacifiic led GNAC women’s teams with six athletes each.

A total of 16 athletes were named all-region in at least two events. Four athletes earned all-region distinction in three events: Alaska Anchorage’s Caroline Kurgat (1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters), Central Washington’s Kodiak Landis (400 meters, long jump, decathlon), Seattle Pacific’s Renick Meyer (4x100-meter relay, long jump, heptathlon) and Simon Fraser’s Addy Townsend (800 meters, 1,500 meters, 4x400-meter relay).

The USTFCCCA Division II All-Region Teams are comprised of the top-five individuals in each event from each region along with the members of the top-three regional relay teams. Only athletes from schools where their coach is a USTFCCCA member are eligible for the award.

A total of 26 GNAC male athletes were among a total of 688 all-region honorees from 176 different institutions. The conference’s 36 female selections were among 640 total honorees from 151 different schools.

Athletes will now watch to see who will make the field for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which takes place May 24-26 in Charlotte, N.C. The list of invited athletes will be announced on Tuesday afternoon.

USTFCCCA DIVISION II ALL-WEST REGION OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD – GNAC SELECTIONS
MEN
Alaska Anchorage: Jorge Sanchez (10,000 Meters).
Central Washington: Kodiak Landis (400 Meters, Long Jump, Decathlon), Braydon Maier (Decathlon), Zach Whittaker (Triple Jump).
Concordia: Caleb Bridge (Discus), Jakob Chamberlin (Discus, Hammer), Easton Christensen (Javelin), Josh Koch (Shot Put), Sam Nichols (Discus), Carlos Ortiz (100 Meters), Jacob Slate (Hammer).
Montana State Billings: Beau Ackerman (Javelin), Jorey Egeland (Steeplechase), Sam Zook (100 Meters, 200 Meters).
Northwest Nazarene: Ebu Camara (400 Meters), Payton Lewis (Pole Vault), John Van Beuren (Shot Put, Hammer).
Saint Martin’s: Brian Chalkley (Javelin).
Simon Fraser: Oliver Jorgensen (Steeplechase), Vladislav Tsygankov (400m Hurdles).
Western Oregon: Dustin Nading (1,500 Meters), David Ribich (800 Meters, 1,500 Meters), Alani Troutman (Long Jump).
Western Washington: Alex Barry (Javelin), Spencer Claeys (Javelin), Tupre Wickliff (High Jump).

WOMEN
Alaska Anchorage: Vanessa Aniteye (400 Meters, 4x400 Relay), Yemi Knight (4x400 Relay), Caroline Kurgat (1,500 Meters, 5,000 Meters, 10,000 Meters), Danielle McCormick (800 Meters, 4x400 Relay), Tamara Perez (1,500 Meters, 4x400 Relay).
Central Washington: Ali Anderson (400m Hurdles), Halle Irvine (Pole Vault), HarLee Ortega (Triple Jump), Alexa Shindruk (10,000 Meters), Mariyah Vongsaveng (100m Hurdles), Erykah Weems (400m Hurdles).
Concordia: Melissa Ausman (Shot Put, Discus), Rachel Bring (Discus), Katrina Linenko (Shot Put), Christina MacDonald (Shot Put, Hammer), Tasha Willing (Shot Put, Hammer).
Saint Martin’s: Deanna Avalos (Javelin).
Seattle Pacific: Grace Bley (4x100 Relay), Scout Cai (Pole Vault, Heptathlon), Becca Houk (4x100 Relay), Geneva Lehnert (High Jump), Renick Meyer (4x100 Relay, Long Jump, Heptathlon), Julia Stepper (4x100 Relay).
Simon Fraser: Renate Bluschke (4x100 Relay), Reta Dobie (Steeplechase), Sophie Dodd (800 Meters, 4x400 Relay), Nicole Lindsay (4x400 Relay), Addy Townsend (800 Meters, 1,500 Meters, 4x400 Relay).
Western Oregon: Kennedy Rufener (10,000 Meters), Suzie Van De Grift (1,500 Meters), Darian Wilson (Javelin), Olivia Woods (800 Meters).
Western Washington: Anna Paradee (Pole Vault), Raquel Pellecer (Javelin), Maddie Taylor (High Jump), Natalie Vetto (Javelin).