Thursday, February 9, 2023

THIS WEEK'S GNAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEN’S TRACK
Justin Conklin, Western Oregon
Junior • The Dalles, Ore.

Conklin set a season-best in the 60-meter hurdles races at Sunday’s George Fox Indoor. He ran the top time in the preliminaries of 8.50 seconds and went on to win the finals in a time of 8.55 seconds. Conklin’s time in the preliminaries ranks sixth in the GNAC this season.

Also Nominated: Isaiah Webster (Central Washington), Quincy Ellis (Northwest Nazarene).

MEN’S FIELD
Steven Schmidt, Northwest Nazarene
Sophomore • Battle Ground, Wash.

Schmidt improved his NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks in both the heptathlon and the high jump at the WSU Open & Combined Events. Schmidt placed third in the heptathlon with a score of 5,266 points. The score ranks No. 5 on the GNAC all-time list and is 10th in Division II this season. He was a winner of the heptathlon high jump with a mark of 6 feet, 11.75 inches that improves his No. 3 mark on the GNAC all-time list and is No. 7 in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Drew Klein (Central Washington), Dayne Gordien (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Maliyah Thompson, Western Oregon
Junior • Salem, Ore.

Thompson won both the 60 meters and the 60-meter hurdles at the George Fox Indoor. Thompson ran a time of 7.75 seconds in both the preliminaries and the finals of the 60 meters, a time that ranks fifth in the GNAC this season. She ran 8.89 seconds in the preliminaries of the 60-meter hurdles and went on to win the finals in a time of 9.05 seconds. The preliminaries time ranks second in the GNAC this season.

Also Nominated: E’lexis Hollis (Central Washington), Abbey Wood (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S FIELD
Kinsey Yenor, Northwest Nazarene
Sophomore • Meridian, Idaho

Yenor won the pole vault at Saturday’s EOU Lou Thorne Invite by a two-foot margin with a mark of 12 feet, 10.25 inches. The mark moves Yenor into a tie for No. 2 on the GNAC all-time list and tied her for 10th in Division II this season.

Also Nominated: Kylie Griffin (Central Washington), Jenelle Hurley (Western Oregon).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage did not compete last week. The Seawolves close the regular season this weekend by sending athletes to both the Whitworth Invitational in Spokane and the Husky Classic in Seattle.

• Sophomore Coleman Nash’s school record in the men’s 3,000 meters paced Alaska Anchorage’s performances at the UW Invitational on Jan. 27 and 28.

• Nash placed seventh in the race and was the top non-Division I or open finisher. His time of 8:03.41 broke the previous record of 8:07.23 set by Dominik Notz in 2017 and ranks No. 4 on the GNAC all-time list. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time ranks No. 10 in Division II this season.

• Senior Collin Sample placed fourth in both horizontal jumps, leaping 22 feet, 10.5 inches in the men’s long jump and 45 feet, 5 inches in the men’s triple jump. Both rank among the top-five marks in UAA history.

• Junior Joshua Wagner had the fourth-fastest time in the prelims of the men’s 60-meter hurdles in 8.39 seconds but did not compete in the finals. Junior Kevin Angarita added a fourth-place finish in the men’s 400 meters in a league-leading 49.47 seconds.

• Junior Joei Vidad had the top women’s individual finish for the Seawolves, placing 19th in the 400 meters in 59.78 seconds. Sophomore Blanca De Arvizu Sarrias placed 21st in 1:00.49. The UAA women’s 4x400-meter relay team finished ninth in 4:00.96.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Sophomore Drew Klein and senior Braydon Maier tied for sixth in the men’s pole vault, leading Central Washington’s performances at the WSU Open & Combined Events.

• The two Wildcats tied for sixth with two other athletes, both clearing 14 feet, 6.25 inches. The clearance moved Klein into second in the GNAC this season.

• Junior Kylie Griffin was the top CWU women’s placer, taking 12th in the high jump with a clearance of 5 feet, 2.5 inches.

• Senior Lauryn Chandler had the eight-fastest time in the first qualifying round of the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.84 seconds and came in 16th in the second set of qualifying heats in 8.91 seconds.

• Junior E’lexis Hollis was ninth in the first round of qualifying in the women’s 60 meters and was 15th in the second round, clocking 7.67 second in both heats.

• The women’s 4x400-meter relay team of Elise Hopper, Zoe McDevitt, McCall DeChenne and Donna Marie Harris just missed CWU’s season-best and GNAC-leading time, placing ninth in 3:56.40.

• Senior Tre Silva led CWU’s efforts in the horizontal jumps, placing 13th in the men’s triple jump with a season-best leap of 42 feet, 0.5 inches.

• Central Washington wraps up the regular season this weekend in Spokane, competing in the Whitworth Invitational.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings did not compete last week. The Yellowjackets head west this weekend to take part in the Whitworth Invitational in Spokane.

• Junior Kendall Lynn’s two victories in the horizontal jumps lead Montana State Billings’ performances at the Don Holst Open in Chadron, Nebraska on Jan. 28.

• Lynn was a winner in the long jump with a mark of 16 feet, 9.25 inches, which was less than an inch ahead of teammate Madison Thompson. Lynn was a winner by 10 inches in the triple jump with a mark of 36 feet, 8.25 inches.

• Senior Kailee Stoppel won the women’s 800 meters in a time of 2:24.26 and turned around to place fourth in the mile in a time of 5:34.97.

• Freshman Tatum Hull won the women’s 60-meter hurdles in 9.52 seconds and also placed third in the triple jump with a mark of 35 feet, 0.5 inches.

• Sophomore Garrett McMillen was the lone MSUB men’s winner and gave the Yellowjackets a sweep of the triple jump. McMillen won the men’s event with a mark of 41 feet, 3.75 inches.

• Montana State Billings also sent a limited number of athletes to the Stacy Dragila Invitational in Pocatello, Idaho on Jan. 28. Sophomore Ben Ralston was the top finisher at Holt Arena, placing 15th in the prelims of the men’s 60 meters in 7.28 seconds.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene sophomores Steven Schmidt and Kinsey Yenor both improved NCAA Championships provisional qualifying marks and GNAC all-time best marks in two meets this week.

• Schmidt placed third in the men’s heptathlon at the WSU Open & Combined Events with a score of 5,266 points which moved him to No. 5 on the GNAC all-time list and No. 10 in Division II this season. In the process, he won the high jump with a facility record clearance of 6 feet, 11.75 inches that improved his No. 3 mark on the GNAC all-time list and is seventh in Division II this season. Both are NNU records. Schmidt also placed third in the long jump at 22 feet, 0.75 inches. The performances earned Schmidt selection as the GNAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week.

• Yenor won the women’s pole vault at the EOU Lou Thorne Invite with an NNU record mark of 12 feet, 10.25 inches that ties her for second on the GNAC all-time list and ties her for 10th in Division II this season. The performance earned Yenor selection as the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week.

• Junior Destany Herbert set an NNU record in the women’s shot put at EOU with her mark of 45 feet, 9.25 inches. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark ranks No. 10 on the GNAC all-time list and is tied for 22nd in Division II this season.

• In total, NNU had 11 event winners at the EOU Lou Thorne Invite. For the women, senior Abbey Wood won the 60 meters in 7.69 seconds while sophomore Laine DeJong won the 400 meters in 1:00.34. Freshman Keelin Stewart won the 800 meters in 2:31.43 and freshman Morgan Erler won the mile in 5:25.83.

• For the men, senior Brayden Durfee won the 200 meters in 22.90 seconds and the 400 meters in 51.14 seconds. Sophomore Gerohm Rihari won the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 8 inches while senior Dylan Hendry won the weight throw with a mark of 54 feet, 2.75 inches.

• Northwest Nazarene returns to Spokane this weekend to compete in the Whitworth Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s did not compete last week. The Saints will be back in action at the Whitworth Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

• Saint Martin’s set a school record in the men’s distance medley relay, leading the Saints’ performances at the UW Invitational in Seattle on Jan. 27 and 28.

• The team of sophomore Isaac Cortes, freshman Nicholas Georgia, senior Jack Farrell and sophomore Kainalu Pagente placed ninth with a time of 10:18.18 to break the previous record of 10:19.70 set in 2005.

• Freshman Jocelyn Saribay was the Saints’ top women’s finisher, placing eighth in the weight throw with a lifetime best of 49 feet, 2.5 inches.

• Freshman Hewie Nguyen led Saint Martin’s individual men’s finishes, placing seventh in the triple jump with a mark of 42 feet, 8.75 inches and eighth in the long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 9 inches.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific did not compete last week. The Falcons will close the regular season on Friday and Saturday at the Husky Classic Seattle.

• Senior Vanessa Aniteye lowered her Division II Championships provisional qualifying time in the women’s 800 meters to pace Seattle Pacific’s performances at the UW Invitational.

• Aniteye led from start to finish in her heat, winning the heat in a time of 2:08.74 and finishing 11th overall. Her NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time ranks No. 2 in Division II this season.

• The women’s pole vault yielded two top-10 individual finishes. Freshman Kayla Tassara tied for fifth and junior Lizzy Daugherty was sixth, both with a mark of 11 feet, 4.25 inches. Freshman Hannah Chang added a 14th-place finish in the women’s long jump at 16 feet, 9.75 inches.

• In the men’s pole vault, junior Brad Bowman tied for sixth place while junior Kainoa Lee tied for eighth, both with marks of 13 feet, 10.5 inches.

• Senior David Njeri added another top-three finish in the men’s triple jump, placing third with a mark of 47 feet, 1.75 inches.

• The SPU men’s 4x400-meter relay team placed sixth in a time of 3:25.73 while the Falcons women’s team placed seventh in 3:57.63.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser did not compete last week. The Red Leafs will split its squad this week, sending athletes to the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston and the Husky Classic in Seattle.

• Sophomore Marie-Éloïse Leclair’s GNAC record in the women’s 200 meters and a Division II-leading time in the men’s distance medley relay led an impressive Simon Fraser performance at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston on Jan. 27 and 28.

• Leclair placed third in the 200 meters in a time of 23.80 seconds, bettering the previous GNAC record of 24.09 set by Alaska Anchorage’s Jamie Ashcroft in 2017. The time ranks fourth in Division II this season. Leclair also placed third in the invitational section of the 60 meters in 7.46 seconds.

• The men’s DMR of sophomores Aiden Good, Jordan Schmidt and Felix Allen and junior Charlie Dannatt won in a time of 9:42.77. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time leads Division II this season and is No. 5 on the GNAC all-time list.

• Dannatt also ran the third-fastest men’s 3,000 meters in GNAC history, placing 21st in a time of 7:58.32. That puts Dannatt No. 3 on the GNAC all-time list and ranks fifth in Division II this season.

• The women’s DMR of freshman Selin Tasdemir, Leclair, sophomore Elizabeth Vanderput and junior Megan Roxby placed second in 11:52.60. Roxby went on to run 4:48.70 in the women’s mile, moving to No. 9 on the GNAC all-time list and ranking 11th in Division II this season.

• Sophomore Sydney Kania placed second in the women’s high jump at 5 feet, 5 inches while sophomore Jesaiah Penson-McCoy placed third in the invitational section of the men’s 60 meters with a league-leading time of 6.99 seconds.

• Simon Fraser also set a handful of athletes to the UW Invitational in Seattle. The crew was led by sophomore Kennedy Primrose, who placed seventh in the women’s triple jump at 36 feet, 4.25 inches.

• The Simon Fraser women are ranked No. 24 in the USTFCCCA Division II Team Index. The Red Leafs’ men are ranked No. 25.

WESTERN OREGON
• Senior Dayne Gordien improved his NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the men’s shot put and senior Jenelle Hurley hit a mark in the pentathlon as Western Oregon sent athletes to the WSU Open & Combined Events, Portland Indoor & George Fox Indoor.

• Gordien improved his provisional mark as he won the shot put at George Fox with a mark of 56 feet, 4 inches. The performance ranks No. 5 on the GNAC all-time list and 17th in Division II this season.

• Hurley placed 12th in the pentathlon at the WSU Open with a score of 3,400 points that ranks 27th in Division II this season.

• Junior Justin Conklin was named the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after he ran a season-best in the 60-meter hurdles at George Fox. His time of 8.50 seconds in the preliminaries ranks sixth in the GNAC this season. Conklin won the finals in a time of 8.55 seconds.

• Junior Maliyah Thompson was selected as the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she won both the 60 meters and 60-meter hurdles at George Fox. Thompson ran 7.75 seconds in both the preliminaries and finals of the 60 meters. Her preliminary time of 8.89 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles ranks second in the GNAC this season. She won the finals in 9.05 seconds.

• Junior Ujunwa Nwokoma was also a winner at George Fox, capturing the women’s long jump with a mark of 18 feet, 4.5 inches.

• Western Oregon closes the regular season at the Husky Classic on Friday and Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington did not compete last week. The Vikings will send a select group of runners to the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston and the rest of the squad to the Husky Classic in Seattle.

• A school-record performance by the men’s distance medley relay team and sophomore Miller Campbell’s win in the men’s weight throw led Western Washington’s efforts at the UW Invitational on Jan. 27 and 28.

• The team of sophomore Will Henry, sophomore Brian Le, freshman Jonah Bloom and junior Drew Weber shattered the WWU record in the DMR, taking second in a time of 9:45.48. The Vikings were just two seconds back of Division I powerhouse Oregon. The NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time ranks No. 7 on the GNAC all-time list and is No. 4 in Division II this season.

• Campbell won the weight throw with a mark of 56 feet, 7.5 inches. The throw leads the GNAC this season. Freshman Angelo Ramos placed third with a mark of 50 feet, 5.5 inches.

• Junior Raine Westfall picked up a third-place finish in the women’s weight throw with a mark of 53 feet, 2.25 inches. Sophomore Trent Kibler added a third-place performance in the men’s high jump, clearing 6 feet, 2.75 inches.

• In addition to his work on the DMR, Weber picked up an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in men’s 800 meters. His time of 1:50.36 placed fifth and ranks seventh in Division II this season.

• Henry also earned an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the men’s mile with a time of 4:10.37 that ranks 48th in Division II.

• Junior Andrew Oslin captured an NCAA Championships provisional qualifying time in the men’s 5,000 meters. His time of 14:28.35 placed 11th and ranks 33rd in Division II this season.