Wednesday, March 23, 2022

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Joshua Wagner, Alaska Anchorage
Sophomore • Niederhar, Germany

Wagner provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 110-meter hurdles at the Hornet Invitational. He won with a wind-aided time of 14.37 seconds, which is No. 5 in Division II this season and is No. 3 on the GNAC all-time list. Wagner also placed second in the 400-meter hurdles in 54.23 seconds and ran on the Seawolves’ seventh-place 4x100-meter relay team.

Also Nominated: Austin Albertin (Central Washington), Bradley Graves (Montana State Billings), Steven Baltz (Saint Martin’s), Aiden Good (Simon Fraser), Justin Crosswhite (Western Oregon), Jeret Gillingham (Western Washington).

MEN’S FIELD
Josh Schulz, Saint Martin’s
Senior • Pe Ell, Wash.

Schulz posted a four-inch season-best to win the long jump at the Doris Heritage Track Festival, winning with a mark of 22 feet, 10 inches. The current GNAC leader in the event, Schulz has won in all three outdoor competitions he has competed in this season.

Also Nominated: Collin Sample (Alaska Anchorage), Tre Silva (Central Washington), Forrest Cross (Montana State Billings), Zackary Kuzyk (Simon Fraser), Marlon Harrison (Western Oregon), Beau Sheeran (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Elena Cano, Alaska Anchorage
Senior • Alpine, Texas

Racing against a largely Division I field, Cano won the 400-meter hurdles at the Hornet Invitational on Saturday in Sacramento. Her time of 1:00.86 is an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time, is No. 8 on the GNAC all-time list and leads Division II this season. Cano also placed fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (14.76 seconds) and fifth in the long jump (18-5.25) and ran a leg on the Seawolves’ second-place 4x400-meter relay team (4:03.16).

Also Nominated: McCall DeChenne (Central Washington), Madeline Severson (Montana State Billings), Naomi Hartley (Saint Martin’s), Olivia Willett (Simon Fraser), Maliyah Thompson (Western Oregon), Sophie Wright (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Kaylee Wright, Western Oregon
Freshman • John Day, Ore.

Wright improved her NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark at the OSU PNW Invite, placing fourth with a mark of 143 feet. The performance ranks No. 9 in Division II this season and was the top non-Division I placer in the event.

Also Nominated: Avery Fisk (Central Washington), Ryann Moline (Montana State Billings), Eden Mortensen (Saint Martin’s), Sydney Kania (Simon Fraser), Raine Westfall (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• A pair of NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks in the hurdles paced the start to the Alaska Anchorage outdoor season as the Seawolves competed at both the Hornet Invitational in Sacramento and the Doris Heritage Track Festival in Seattle.

• Senior Elena Cano notched a provisional qualifying time in the 400-meter hurdles, winning in a time of 1:00.86. The time leads Division II this season and is No. 8 on the GNAC all-time list. Cano also finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (17.76) and fifth in the long jump (18-5.25) and ran a leg on the Seawolves’ 4x400-meter relay team to earn GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week honors.

• Sophomore Joshua Wagner hit a provisional mark in the 110-meter hurdles, winning in 14.37 seconds. The time is No. 5 in Division II this season and No. 3 on the GNAC all-time list. Wagner also placed second in the 400-meter hurdles in 54.23 seconds to earn GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors.

• Freshman Mette Van der Meer set the UAA school record in the women’s pole vault, clearing 10 feet, 11.75 inches to finish seventh. Senior Collin Sample placed fifth in the long jump at 22 feet, 7.25 inches and ninth in the men’s triple jump at 41 feet, 2.5 inches.

• Senior Tylantiss Atlas led the UAA performances at the Doris Heritage Track Festival, winning the women’s 200 meters in 25.38 seconds and placing second in the 400 meters in 58.35 seconds. Senior Akor Maywin won the women’s high jump with a mark of 5 feet. 1.25 inches.

• Alaska Anchorage heads to the sun for its next week, competing in the Aztec Invitational Thursday through Saturday in San Diego.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• A pair of standout performances from junior McCall DeChenne and senior Austin Albertin led Central Washington as it competed in both the Willie Williams Classic in Tucson, Arizona, and the Doris Heritage Track Festival.

• DeChenne placed second in the women’s 400-meter hurdles in Arizona against a largely Division I field with a time of 1:01.60. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time ranks second in Division II this season and is No. 10 on the GNAC all-time list.

• Augustin ran lifetime bests against the Division I talent, placing second in the men’s 400-meter hurdles in 53.62 seconds and placing 16th in the 400 meters in 48.83 seconds.

• At the Doris Heritage Track Festival, seniors Angus Beaton and Meghan Smallbeck posted dueling second-place finishes in the hammer. Beaton was second in the men’s competition with a mark of 159 feet, 3 inches. Smallbeck took second in the women’s event with a mark of 143 feet. 11 inches.

• Sophomore E’lexis Hollis took second in the women’s 100 meters, clocking a time of 12.54 seconds. In the men’s sprints, senior Bryan Sidor was second in the men’s 200 meters with a time of 22.27 seconds.

• Adding second-place finishes in the field events were senior Avery Fisk in the women’s shot put with a mark of 40 feet, 7.5 inches, junior Kylie Griffin in the women’s high jump with a clearance of 4 feet, 11.5 inches and junior Tre Silva in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 40 feet, 6.25 inches.

• Central Washington will compete on Saturday at the Peyton-Shotwell Invitational in Tacoma, Washington.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings collected nine individual event victories as it opened the outdoor season with the Yellowjackets/Battlin’ Bears Open in Lockwood, Montana.

• Junior Forrest Cross opened the season with a win in the men’s discus with a mark of 144 feet, 4 inches. He also placed second in the shot put with a best of 46 feet, 1.5 inches. It was Cross’ first outdoor meet since 2018.

• Sophomore Bradley Graves made his MSUB outdoor debut with a victory in the men’s 110-meter hurdles in a time of 15.35 seconds.

• The Yellowjacket women’s victories all came on the track. Freshman Madeline Severson won the 400 meters in a time of 1:01.26. She went on to place second in the high jump with a clearance of 4 feet, 9.75 inches.

• Junior Kailee Stoppel took first in the 5,000 meters in a time of 18:58.83. Freshman Annelise Clark also won the women’s 400-meter hurdles in her MSUB outdoor debut in 1:11.26.

• Junior Ase Ackerman led a one-two finish for MSUB in the men’s 800 meters, winning in 1:57.86 while senior Carson Jessop was second in a time of 1:59.85.

• Sophomore Braden Anderson added a victory in the men’s shot put with a mark of 46 feet, 6.25 inches and sophomore Ryder Klein won the men’s javelin with his mark of 157 feet, 10 inches.

• Montana State Billings competes again on Friday and Saturday at the Yellow Jacket Spring Open in Spearfish, South Dakota.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene will not open its outdoor season until Saturday, Mar. 26, taking part in the Team 4 Titus & Ely Meet in Irvine, California.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Three event winners led a day of personal bests for Saint Martin’s at the Doris Heritage Track Festival on Saturday in Seattle.

• Senior Josh Schulz earned GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week honors for the second straight week after he won the long jump with a mark of 22 feet, 10 inches. The performance was a four-inch season-best. Sophomore Andrew Schulz was second in with a mark of 21 feet, 10.25 inches.

• Sophomore Naomi Hartley was a winner in the women’s 5,000 meters in a time of 18:06.48. Freshman Sara Sabra was second place in a time of 18:52.63.

• The women’s 4x100-meter relay team of Madison Vu, Cree Bell, Margaret Zilla and Gabriela Cintron had the third victory for the Saints with a time of 50.73 seconds.

• The men’s 4x100-meter relay team of Josh Schulz, Landon Armstrong, Andrew Boyd and Andrew Schulz notched a second-place time of 44.06 seconds.

• Freshman Steven Baltz rounded out the Saints’ top-three finishers in the meet, placing third in the men’s 800 meters in a time of 2:02.40.

• Saint Martin’s is back in action this Saturday, competing in the Peyton-Shotwell Invitational in Tacoma.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Five individual event victories led the day for Seattle Pacific as it hosted the Doris Heritage Track Festival on Saturday at West Seattle Stadium.

• Junior David Njeri was a winner in his first-ever collegiate attempt at the men’s 200 meters, running a time of 22.23 seconds that currently leads the GNAC.  Sophomore Jeff Gordon added a victory in the men’s 100 meters with a time of 11.12 seconds.

• The men’s 4x400-meter relay team, comprised of Njeri, Isaiah Archer, Julius Shepherd and Jon Owen, won with a time of 3:27.65.

• In the women’s sprints, senior Peace Igbonagwam captured the 400 meters in a time of 56.94 seconds. Senior Vanessa Aniteye was the winner of the 800 meters in 2:11.16.

• Sophomore Annika Esvelt provided a victory in the women’s 1,500 meters in a time of 4:44.80.

• Igbonagwam combined with Jenna Bouyer, Aniteye and Johanna Brown to win the women’s 4x400-meter relay in a time of 4:00.92.

• The Falcons went 2-3-4 in the women’s pole vault. Senior Madison Licari was second with a mark of 11 feet, 1.5 inches. Sophomore Lizzy Daugherty was third, also clearing 11 feet, 1.5 inches, and freshman Charlie Hill was fourth with a clearance of 10 feet, 7.5 inches.

• Seattle Pacific will be among the GNAC teams competing on Saturday at the Peyton-Shotwell Invitational in Tacoma, Washington.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser opened the outdoor season at home, hosting the first of two high performance meets on the season at Terry Fox Field.

• The home team was the winner in all 10 women’s events on the day. The distances led the way with junior Olivia Willett winning the 3,000 meters in a time of 10:26.83 while freshman Grace Chalk won the 1,500 meters in 4:58.38.

• In the women’s sprints, freshman Jordan Jacobs won the 100 meters (13.10), freshman Estrella Mainella won the 200 meters (26.87), freshman Elizabeth Vanderput won the 400 meters (58.71) and freshman Kate Cameron won the 800 meters (2:18.40). Senior Diana Voloshin added a victory in the 100-meter hurdles (14.68).

• Women’s field event winners included freshman Sydney Kania in the high jump (5-1), freshman Danielle Waller in the long jump (17-0) and freshman Kaitlyn Hanger in the shot put (30-7.75).

• Freshman Aiden Good led five SFU men’s event winners, taking first in the 1,500 meters in a time of 3:53.96. Freshman Scott Arndt won the 3,000 meters in a time of 8:39.01 and freshman Jordan Schmidt won the 400 meters in 51.37 seconds.

• In the men’s field events, sophomore Zackary Kuzyk won the long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 0.75 inches and freshman Nickolas Kuzyk won the triple jump with a mark of 38 feet, 5 inches.

• Simon Fraser will remain north of the border this week, competing at the UBC Invitational in Vancouver on Saturday and Sunday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Victories for senior Justin Crosswhite and freshman Rilee Carstensen and an NCAA Championships provisional mark improvement for freshman Kaylee Wright led Western Oregon’s performances at the OSU PNW Invite in Corvallis, Oregon.

• Running in his first race for WOU this season, Crosswhite won the men’s 800 meters in a time of 1:56.18.  Carstensen opened her outdoor season with a win in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 1:10.72.

• Wright was named the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after she placed fourth in the women’s javelin with a mark of 143 feet. The performance leads the GNAC and ranks No. 9 in Division II this season.

• Junior Jenelle Hurley placed second in the women’s 100-meter hurdles in a personal-best time of 14.88 seconds. Senior Kalulusno Ngaida added a second-place finish in the women’s triple jump with her mark of 36 feet, 2.75 inches.

• For the men, sophomore Gabe Arce-Torres captured second place in the 400 meters with a time of 50.18 seconds and freshman James Duane was second in the 110-meter hurdles in a time of 16.09 seconds. Junior Marlon Harrison took second place in the men’s long jump with a personal-best mark of 21 feet, 4 inches.

• The Wolves’ multi-event specialists will compete on Thursday and Friday at the Adams/Klein Combined Events meet in Santa Barbara, California. The rest of the team will compete at the Willamette Invitational on Saturday in Salem, Oregon.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Six individual event victories, five for the men, led Western Washington’s performances at the Doris Heritage Track Festival in Seattle.

• Sophomore Jeret Gillingham took first place in the men’s 5,000 meters in a time of 14:47.24. The performance is the best in the GNAC this season by 18 seconds.

• Junior Bryant Welch took top honors in the men’s 400 meters in a time of 49.25 seconds. Freshman Brock Knowles won the men’s 800 meters with a time of 1:58.87.

• In the men’s field events, senior Beau Sheeran was the winner in the high jump with a mark of 6 feet, 5 inches while junior Ben Malquist took first place in the shot put with his mark of 51 feet, 0.75 inches.

• Freshman Raine Westfall recorded her third victory in three meets in the women’s hammer, winning with a mark of 154 feet, 5 inches.

• Freshman Sophie Wright added a second-place finish in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:13.78. The performance is No. 6 in WWU history and just missed the NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark of 2:12.24.

• Five WWU women’s distance runners will compete at the Aztec Invitational in San Diego this weekend. The rest of the team heads north to compete in the UBC Invitational on Saturday and Sunday in Vancouver.