Tuesday, February 28, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. – A total of 16 GNAC athletes, including two who are entered in two events apiece, have been selected to compete in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships, which takes place March 10 and 11 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Simon Fraser leads the GNAC field with three individuals and the men’s distance medley relay team invited. The Red Leafs are led by sophomore Marie-Éloïse Leclair, who is expected to compete for titles in the women’s 60 meters and 200 meters. Leclair enters with the fourth-fastest time in the field in the 200 meters at 23.63 seconds and the sixth-fastest in the 60 meters at 7.33 seconds. She is the GNAC record holder in both events.

Junior Charlie Dannatt is one of two GNAC athletes to gain entry in the men’s mile. Dannatt had the No. 2 time in the 16-athlete field with a time of 3:58.54. He is also No. 8 in the 3,000 meters with a season-best of 7:58.32. In addition to his individual events, Dannatt joins teammates Aiden Good, Jordan Schmidt and Felix Allen in the DMR, where the Red Leafs have the fifth-fastest time in the field at 9:42.77.

Junior Megan Roxby rounds out the SFU contingent. She is entered in the women’s mile with a season-best time of 4:48.70 that tanks 13th.

Seattle Pacific senior Vanessa Aniteye enters as the favorite in the women’s 800 meters. She owns the top time in Division II at 2:07.53.

Alaska Anchorage sophomore Coleman Nash is scheduled to compete in both the men’s 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. Nash has the No. 5 time in the 5,000 meters in 13:48.46 and is No. 18 in the 3,000 meters at 8:03.41.

Northwest Nazarene sophomore Steven Schmidt is entered in both the men’s heptathlon and high jump. Schmidt’s season-best score of 5,386 points in the heptathlon ranks seventh while his mark of 7 feet, 0.25 inches in the high jump ranks ninth.

Central Washington will send two athletes to Virginia. Junior E’lexis Hollis joins Leclair in the women’s 60 meters, seeded No. 13 with her season best of 7.46 seconds. Junior Lauryn Chandler is entered in the women’s 60-meter hurdles and is seeded No. 14 with a season-best of 8.57 seconds.

Western Washington junior Drew Weber is among the entries in the men’s 800 meters and ranks 12th in the field with a time of 1:49.86. He will also run as part of the Vikings’ men’s DMR with teammates Will Henry, Brian Le and Jonah Bloom.

Western Oregon junior Hunter Hutton rounds out the field with his entry in the men’s mile. He ranks No. 6 with a season-best time of 4:03.26.

2023 NCAA DIVISION II INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Accepted Entries – GNAC Athletes
MEN
Alaska Anchorage: Coleman Nash (3,000 Meters, 5.000 Meters)
Northwest Nazarene: Steven Schmidt (High Jump, Heptathlon)
Simon Fraser: Charlie Dannatt (Mile, 3,000 Meters), Distance Medley Relay (Aiden Good, Jordan Schmidt, Felix Allen, Charlie Dannatt)
Western Oregon: Hunter Hutton (Mile)
Western Washington: Drew Weber (800 Meters), Distance Medley Relay (Will Henry, Brian Le, Jonah Bloom, Drew Weber)

WOMEN
Central Washington: Lauryn Chandler (60-Meter Hurdles), E’lexis Hollis (60 Meters)
Seattle Pacific: Vanessa Aniteye (800 Meters)
Simon Fraser: Marie-Éloïse Leclair (60 Meters, 200 Meters), Megan Roxby (Mile)