Thursday, February 13, 2020

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Dominique Loggins, Western Oregon
Freshman • Tualatin, Ore.

Running in his first collegiate track and field meet, Loggins proceeded to run a conference season-best time of 6.98 seconds to win the 60 meters at the Portland Indoor #2 meet. He just edged out former Concordia standout Adam Brown, who ran 7.07 seconds. The performance is the fifth-fastest in Western Oregon indoor history.

Also Nominated: Daniel Calderon-Hernandez (Central Washington), Jordan Gloden (Concordia), Ase Ackerman (Montana State Billings), Landon Armstrong (Saint Martin’s), Ed Kiolbasa (Western Washington).

MEN’S FIELD
Andrew Harris, Central Washington
Senior • North Bend, Wash.

Harris posted a win in the men’s weight throw at the Nike Indoor Invite in Nampa, Idaho. His mark of 58 feet, 8.75 inches was over three feet better than second-place Oran Wasserman of Utah State and ranks 10th on the GNAC All-Time List.

Also Nominated: Seth Bridge (Concordia), Forrest Cross (Montana State Billings), Tyler Cronk (Saint Martin’s), Nick Sieber (Western Oregon), Tupre Wickliff (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Peace Igbonagwam, Seattle Pacific
Sophomore • Fairview, Ore.

Igbonagwam had one of her best SPU meets on the track at the Nike Indoor Invite. She won the 60 meters in a time of 7.78 seconds, narrowing beating out a cadre of Division I and open competitors. She ran a 7.70 in the preliminary heats, ranking her third in the GNAC this season. Igbonagwam added a seventh-place finish in the 200 meters with a time of 25.34 seconds. In addition, Igbonagwam was second in the triple jump (38-2.25) and third in the long jump (17-11.75).

Also Nominated: Molly Mattson (Central Washington), Paige Johnson (Concordia), Nikki Aiken (Montana State Billings), Makiya Worthy (Saint Martin’s), Maya Hopwood (Western Oregon), Annika Taylor (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Renick Meyer, Seattle Pacific
Junior • Gresham, Ore.

Meyer was a winner in the long jump at the Nike Boise Indoor, posting a season-best by over a foot with a mark of 18 feet, 9.25 inches. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark ranks second in the GNAC and is tied for 20th in Division II this season. Meyer also placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.99), 13th in the 60 meters and 15th in the 200.

Also Nominated: Samantha La Rue (Central Washington), Sasha Korolenko (Concordia), Moana Gianotti (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage did not compete last weekend. The Seawolves’ final tuneup before to the GNAC Indoor Championships will be at the GVSU Big Meet on Friday and Saturday in Allendale, Mich.

• The distance medley relay teams led UAA  at its last meet, the UW Invitational on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. The men’s DMR squad of Felix Kemboi, Joshua Wagner, Eduardo Orozco and Wesley Kirui placed third in a time of 9:59.65. The second-fastest time in the GNAC this season, the mark ranks 13th in Division II.

• The women’s DMR of Nancy Jeptoo, Tylantiss Atlas, Ruth Cvancara and Emmah Chelimo also posted a provisional qualifying mark, placing fifth in 11:51.24. That is also second-fastest in the GNAC and fifth in Division II this season.

• Chelimo added an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the women’s 3,000 meters. She placed 37th out of 66 competitors in a time of 9:41.98 and ranks 10th in Division II. Jeptoo also provisionally qualified in the mile as her 38th-place time of 4:58.98 ranks 28th in Division II.

• The Seawolves finished the meet with three other top-10 finishes. Senior Chris Brake placed eighth in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 5 inches. Senior Elena Cano was ninth in the women’s 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.96 seconds and the women’s 4x400-meter relay team placed 10th in a time of 3:56.98.

• Alaska Anchorage remains at No. 6 in the USTFCCCA Men’s West Region Team Index while the women remain at No. 8.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Despite a late arrival due to road conditions, Central Washington came away with seven top-three finishes at the Nike Indoor Invite in Nampa, Idaho.

• Senior Andrew Harris was named the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he won the weight throw with a mark of 58 feet, 8.75 inches. The leading mark in the GNAC and an NCAA Championships provisional qualifier, it ranks Harris in a tie for 27th in Division II.

• Senior Alberto Tafoya was third in the weight throw with a mark of 54 feet, 9.25 inches. In the men’s shot put, junior Ethan Tonder placed third with a mark of 51 feet, 5.5 inches. In the women’s throws, sophomore Meagan Smallbeck was third in the weight throw with her mark of 53 feet, 6.25 inches.

• Senior Zach Whittaker was the Wildcats’ other event winner, taking the men’s triple jump with a leap of 45 feet, 5.75 inches.

• In the women’s pole vault, junior Halle Irvine placed third with a clearance of 12 feet, 1.5 inches.

• On the track, junior Trevor Allen placed third in the men’s mile with a time of 4:23.52. In the 400 meters, senior Daniel Calderon-Hernandez set the CWU indoor record with a time of 49.24 seconds. The performance bettered the old record of 49.33 set by Scott Morrison in 2010.

• Central Washington enters the week ranked No. 5 in the USTFCCCA Women’s West Region Team Index. The men are ranked No. 6.

• Central Washington’s final meet before the GNAC Indoor Championships will be the Husky Classic on Feb. 14 and 15 in Seattle.

CONCORDIA
• The sprinters carried the day for Concordia at the Portland Indoor #2 meet, held Saturday in Newberg, Oregon and Sunday in Portland.

• Junior Macie Allen won the women’s 60 meters, advancing out of the prelims with a time of 7.72 seconds before winning the final in a time of 7.61 seconds. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifier ties her for 23rd in Division II this season.

• Sophomore Paige Johnson was the winner of the women’s 60-meter hurdles, running 8.85 seconds in the prelims before taking the final in a time of 8.88 seconds. Johnson also tied for third in the high jump with a clearance of 5 feet, 3.25 inches. Senior Amelia Maguin added a second-place finish in the 400 meters in 58.15 seconds.

• The Cavaliers went 1-2 in the men’s 60-meter hurdles. Sophomore Jordan Gloden won in a time of 8.49 while freshman Justin Conklin was second in 8.69 seconds.

• Sophomore Sasha Korolenko won the women’s weight throw with her mark of 54 feet, 9.5 inches. Senior Caleb Bridge took third in the men’s event with a mark of 56 feet, 7.25 inches.

• Senior Karlie Hurley added a second-place finish in the women’s triple jump at 37 feet, 4 inches while sophomore Dillon Zheol was second in the men’s triple jump at 45 feet, 5.75 inches.

• Concordia moved back up to No. 1 in this week’s USTFCCCA Women’s West Region Team Index. The men dropped one spot to No. 4.

• Concordia will compete in Seattle this weekend in the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings concluded its preparation for the GNAC Indoor Championships by competing in the Nike  Indoor Invite in Nampa, Idaho.

• Sophomore Ase Ackerman had the highest finish for the Yellowjackets, taking third in the men’s 3,000 meters in a season-best 8:56.62. Ackerman also placed sixth in the mile with a time of 4:27.16.

• Senior Nikki Aiken posted a pair of seventh-place finishes in the women’s distances. Aiken ran a lifetime best of 10:56.82 in the 3,000 meters and then clocked 15:56.92 in the 5,000 meters.

• Senior Isaiah Girard placed fourth in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 5 inches.

• In the throws, senior Forrest Cross took seventh place in the men’s weight throw with his mark of 48 feet, 4 inches. He also placed seventh in the shot put with a mark of 48 feet.

• The MSUB men dropped one spot in the USTFCCCA West Region Team Index, sitting this week at No. 10.

• The Yellowjackets do not compete again until the GNAC Indoor Championships on February 21 and 22 in Nampa.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Junior Elijah Castro and freshman Colton Sedlacek placed in the top-six in the men’s horizontal jumps to lead a limited Northwest Nazarene roster at the Nike Indoor Invite.

• Castro tied for fifth in the long jump, finishing with a best of 21 feet, 5.25 inches. Sedlacek placed sixth in the triple jump with a leap of 41 feet, 6 inches.

• Freshman Emma Clark added a seventh-place finish in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 36 feet, 11.75 inches, the fifth-best mark in NNU history. The day before, Clark cleared 10 feet, 8 inches in the pole vault to move to No. 8 on the NNU all-time list.

• Freshman McKenna Emerson was NNU’s top performer on the track, placing eighth in the women’s 800 meters in a time of 2:23.52.

• Next up for the Nighthawks will be the GNAC Indoor Championships on Feb. 21 and 22 at the Jackson’s Indoor Center.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Wins by sophomores Keshara Romain and Tyler Cronk in the triple jump led Saint Martin’s performances at the Portland Indoor #2 meet.

• Romain surpassed 40 feet in the women’s triple jump for the second time this season, winning the event with a mark of 40 feet, 1.5 inches. She was nearly three-feet better than the second-place finisher.

• Cronk set a lifetime best in winning the men’s triple jump with a mark of 45 feet, 9.25 inches after fouling on his first two attempts of the competition. Senior Josh Schulz added a third-place finish with his mark of 45 feet, 3.5 inches.

• Schulz and freshman Landon Armstrong both qualified for the finals of the men’s 60 meters. Armstrong succeeded in finishing fifth in 7.11 seconds while Schulz right behind in sixth at 7.12 seconds.

• Sophomore Briana Cabrera took fourth place in the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 10 feet.

• The Saint Martin’s men moved up one spot to No. 9 in this week’s USTFCCCA West Region Team Index.

• The Saints will next compete at the GNAC Indoor Championships on Feb. 21 and 22.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• First-place finishes from sophomore Peace Igbonagwam and junior Renick Meyer led Seattle Pacific as the Falcons competed at both the Nike Indoor Invite and the Portland Indoor #2 meet.

• Igbonagwam was named the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after taking first in the 60 meters in Nampa and placing top-seven in three other events. She won the 60 meters in 7.78 seconds after running 7.70 in the prelims. She then went on to place seventh in the 200 meters in 25.34 seconds. In the field events, Igbonagwam placed second in the triple jump with a mark of 38 feet, 1.25 inches and third in the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 11.75 inches.

• Meyer was named the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after she won the long jump with an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark of 18 feet, 9.25 inches. The performance ties her for 20th in Division II this season. Meyer also took fourth in the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.99 seconds.

• Sophomore David Njeri posted a pair of top-five finishes in Nampa. He took fourth in the men’s 60-meter hurdles in 8.61 seconds and tied for fifth in the long jump with a best of 21 feet, 5.25 inches.

• At the Portland Indoor #2, senior Kate Lilly led the way with a third-place finish in the women’s mile with a time of 5:02.66. Senior Katherine Walter placed seventh in the women’s 3,000 meters in 10:14.60.

• The men’s efforts in Portland were led by sophomore Colby Otero, who placed fourth in the mile with a time of 4:17.48.

• The Falcons’ women moved up one spot to No. 4 in this week’s USTFCCCA West Region Team Index.

• Seattle Pacific will complete its run-up for the GNAC Indoor Championships with the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser did not complete last weekend. The Clan will split its squad this weekend. A select group of athletes will go to the David Hemery Valentine Invite in Boston while the rest of the squad will aim for entries in Husky Classic.

• Senior Addy Townsend’s automatic qualifying time in the women’s 800 meters led Simon Fraser’s efforts at the UW Invitational on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Townsend punched her ticket to the national meet with a ninth-place time of 2:07.74. The performance is the leading time in Division II.

• Sophomore Mairin Shields-Brown earned an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time in the women’s 800 meters. She placed 37th of 53 finishers with a time of 2:13.17 that ranks 14th in Division II this season.

• Freshman Jeremiah Lauzon performed well against Division I competition in the men’s 200 meters, placing fifth in a time of 21.97 seconds. It is his third finish under 22 seconds this season. Lauzon teamed with Kaito Suzuki, Joshua Adehmar and Callum Robinson to place fifth in the 4x400-meter relay in a time of 3:20.93.

• The Clan women down two spots to No. 13 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II National Team Rankings. Both the SFU men’s and women’s teams are No. 7 in this week’s West Region Team Indexes.

WESTERN OREGON
• Three first-place finishes, led by freshman Dominique Loggins’ win in the men’s 60 meters, headline Western Oregon’s performances in the Portland Indoor #2 meet.

• Loggins was named the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after picking up the win in his first collegiate meet, running 7.02 seconds in the preliminaries and 6.98 in the finals. The time leads the GNAC and just short of the NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time of 6.87 seconds.

• Junior Kalulusno Ngaida took first place in the women’s high jump, turning in a season-best mark of 5 feet, 5.25 inches, a two-inch improvement.

• Senior Nick Sieber added a first-place finish in the men’s shot put, finishing at 50 feet, 0.75 inches to lead a top-three WOU sweep. Sophomore Owen Collins finished second with a mark of  48 feet, 1.25 inches and sophomore Karsten Collins was third at 46 feet, 9.5 inches.

• Senior Moana Gianotti placed third in the women’s weight throw with her mark of 49 feet, 9 inches.

• Freshman Brennen Sorah added a fourth-place finish in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 8.74 seconds. Senior Zach Kanelis added a third-place finish in the men’s 800 meters in 1:56.61. The men’s 4x400 relay team also took third in a time of 3:31.31.

• The Western Oregon men are ranked No. 20 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division II Team Index. The Wolves are also ranked No. 5 in the West Region Team Index while the women are at No. 10.

• Western Oregon will compete this weekend at both the Husky Classic in Seattle and the Boise State Team Challenge in Nampa.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Middle and long distances led the way for Western Washington at the Portland Indoor #2 meet.

• Junior Ed Kiolbasa turned in a second-place finish in the men’s 3,000 meters, clocking a time of 8:27.29. He led all collegiate competitors in the race and moved to No. 4 on the WWU all-time list.

• Sophomore Annika Taylor placed third in the women’s 800 meters in a time of 2:18.93. That ranks No. 5 on the WWU all-time list.

• Junior Tovah Swartz-Ireland placed fourth in the women’s 3,000 meters in a time of 10:12.05 while senior Sophia Galvez was sixth in a time of 10:13.74.

• Junior Jane Barr added a fourth-place finish in the fourth in the women’s mile in a time 5:08.11, the eighth-fastest time in WWU history. Sophomore Rebecca Lehman was sixth in a time of 5:10.17.

• In the field events, senior Tupre Wickliff was the winner of the men’s high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 6.75 inches. Freshman Jessica Neal was second in the women’s high jump with her mark of 5 feet, 3.25 inches. Freshman Katie Potts added a third-place finish in the women’s shot put with a mark of 36 feet, 7.5 inches.

• The Western Washington men are ranked No. 1 in the USTFCCCA West Region Team Index for the second consecutive week. The Vikings moved two spots to No. 8.

• Western Washington will complete its tuneup for the GNAC Indoor Championships by competing in the Husky Classic in Seattle on  Friday and Saturday.