Thursday, April 18, 2024
by Evan O'Kelly, Assistant Commissioner For Communications
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference track & field teams will get an early look at the venue – and competition – for the fast-approaching 2024 GNAC Outdoor Championships, as Central Washington plays host to this week’s headline meet on Saturday.
The CWU Wildcat Invitational will kick off on Saturday morning at the Recreation Sports Complex in Ellensburg, which is the site of the upcoming conference outdoor meet scheduled for May 10-11. Eight of the conference’s nine track & field programs are scheduled to compete at the championship track this weekend, as the event will serve as a conference preview of sorts three weeks ahead of the championships.
Northwest Nazarene will send athletes both to the CWU meet and the Division I Utah State Invitational, which runs Friday-Saturday in Logan, Utah. Western Oregon meanwhile will split its team between the CWU Wildcat Invitational and the Southern Oregon Raider Invitational, which runs Friday-Saturday in Ashland, Ore.
GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Schedule - April 18-20 |
Date |
Meet |
Location |
Start Time |
GNAC Teams Competing |
4/18 |
Cal State LA Eagle Invitational |
Los Angeles, CA |
9 a.m. |
SFU |
4/19-20 |
Utah State Invitational |
Logan, UT |
9 a.m. |
NNU |
4/19-20 |
Southern Oregon Raider Invitational |
Ashland, OR |
3 p.m. |
WOU |
4/20 |
CWU Wildcat Invitational |
Ellensburg, WA |
9 a.m. |
UAA, CWU, MSUB, NNU, SMU, SPU, WOU, WWU |
The 2024 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held May 10-11 at the Recreation Sports Complex on the campus of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash. The event will be preceded by the GNAC Combined Event Championships, which will take place April 29-30 at Civic Stadium in Bellingham, Wash. All nine GNAC track and field programs are eligible to compete in both the combined event championship and the outdoor championship.
GNAC Track In The Weekly Outdoor Track & Field Rankings |
The 2024 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held May 10-11 at the Recreation Sports Complex on the campus of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash. The event will be preceded by the GNAC Combined Event Championships, which will take place April 29-30 at Civic Stadium in Bellingham, Wash. All nine GNAC track and field programs are eligible to compete in both the combined event championship and the outdoor championship.
USTFCCCA West Region Rankings - Men's Outdoor Track & Field |
Poll |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Team 3 |
Team 4 |
Team 5 |
Team 6 |
Team 7 |
Team 8 |
Team 9 |
Week 1 – 3/25 |
9. WWU |
10. WOU |
13. CWU |
17. UAA |
18. SFU |
19. NNU |
20. SPU |
21. SMU |
23. MSUB |
Week 2 – 4/2 |
5. WWU |
6. CWU |
9. WOU |
13. UAA |
16. SFU |
17. NNU |
20. SMU |
21. SPU |
22. MSUB |
Week 3 – 4/9 |
5. WWU |
6. CWU |
8. WOU |
14. UAA |
15. SFU |
18. NNU |
20. SMU |
21. SPU |
22. MSUB |
Week 4 - 4/16 |
5. WWU |
7. CWU |
9. WOU |
12. UAA |
16. SFU |
17. NNU |
20. SMU |
21. SPU |
22. MSUB |
USTFCCCA West Region Rankings - Women's Outdoor Track & Field |
Poll |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Team 3 |
Team 4 |
Team 5 |
Team 6 |
Team 7 |
Team 8 |
Team 9 |
Week 1 – 3/25 |
11. UAA |
12. CWU |
15. WOU |
17. WWU |
19. NNU |
20. SFU |
21. SPU |
23. SMU |
24. MSUB |
Week 2 – 4/2 |
3. WWU |
12. CWU |
13. WOU |
14. UAA |
16. SFU |
17. SPU |
21. NNU |
22. MSUB |
24. SMU |
Week 3 – 4/9 |
3. WWU |
8. CWU |
11. WOU |
14. SFU |
17. NNU |
18. UAA |
20. SPU |
23. MSUB |
24. SMU |
Week 4 - 4/16 |
4. WWU |
8. CWU |
11. WOU |
14. SFU |
15. NNU |
16. SPU |
20. UAA |
22. MSUB |
23. SMU |
2024 Outdoor Women's Event Squad Rankings |
2024 Outdoor Men's Event Squad Rankings |
Week 3 Event Squad Rankings (April 9)
Week 4 Event Squad Rankings (April 16)
USTFCCCA Conference TFRI – Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
Week 4 TFRI Rankings (April 16)
USTFCCCA Conference TFRI – Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
Week 4 TFRI Rankings (April 16)
2024 Outdoor Provisional National Qualifying Marks |
View a complete listing of provisional qualifying marks obtained by GNAC student-athletes at the links below.
View a complete listing of meets that GNAC teams have competed in throughout the 2023-24 indoor and outdoor seasons at the link above.
2023-24 GNAC Track & Field Athletes of the Week |
Date |
Women's Athlete of the Week |
Men's Athlete of the Week |
Dec. 11 |
E'lexis Hollis, Central Washington (Track) |
Brody Kemble, Northwest Nazarene (Track) |
|
Emy Ntekpere, Central Washington (Field) |
Justin Conklin, Western Oregon (Field |
Jan. 15 |
Marie-Eloise Leclair, Simon Fraser (Track) |
Kevin McDermott, Western Washington (Track) |
|
Lauryn McGough, Central Washington (Field) |
Drew Klein, Central Washington (Field) |
Jan. 22 |
E'lexis Hollis, Central Washington (Track) |
Johan Correa, Central Washington (Track) |
|
Emy Ntekpere, Central Washington (Field) |
Drew Klein, Central Washington (Field) |
Jan. 29 |
Marie-Eloise Leclair, Simon Fraser (Track) |
Kevin McDermott, Western Washington (Track) |
|
Katie Potts, Western Washington (Field) |
Ryan Greenwalt, Western Washington (Field) |
Feb. 5 |
Maliyah Thompson, Western Oregon (Track) |
Josh Green, Central Washington (Track) |
|
Ujunwa Nwokoma, Western Oregon (Field) |
Mark Warren, Western Oregon (Field) |
Feb. 26 |
Ila Davis, Western Washington (Track) |
Ephrem Mekonnen, Simon Fraser (Track) |
|
Katie Potts, Western Washington (Field) |
Mark Warren, Western Oregon (Field) |
March 4 |
Aniya Green, Seattle Pacific (Track) |
Ryan Clough, Western Washington (Track) |
|
Jocelyn Saribay, Saint Martin's (Field) |
Andrew Schulz, Saint Martin's (Field) |
March 11 |
Cassidy Walchak-Sloan, Saint Martin's (Track) |
Brian Le, Western Washington (Track) |
|
Katie Potts, Western Washington (Field) |
Jakob Braunstein, Western Washington (Field) |
March 18 |
Ellie DeGroot, Central Washington (Track) |
Jake Hall, Simon Fraser (Track) |
|
Lizzy Daugherty, Seattle Pacific (Field) |
Jarrett Chong, Simon Fraser (Field) |
March 25 |
Cassidy Walchak-Sloan, Saint Martin's (Track) |
Jeret Gillingham, Western Washington (Track) |
|
Vivien Liessfeld, Alaska Anchorage (Field) |
Laurenz Waldbauer, Northwest Nazarene (Field) |
April 1 |
Ila Davis, Western Washington (Track) |
Coleman Nash, Alaska Anchorage (Track) |
|
Ellie DeGroot, Central Washington (Field) |
Drew Klein, Central Washington (Field) |
April 8 |
Morgan Erler, Northwest Nazarene (Track) |
Johan Correa, Central Washington (Track) |
|
Katie Potts, Western Washington (Field) |
Ethan Guidry, Saint Martin's (Field) |
April 15 |
Megan Roxby, Simon Fraser (Track) |
Joshua Caleb, Alaska Anchorage (Track) |
|
Zuzanna Liniewski, Simon Fraser (Field) |
Wes Kriete, Central Washington (Field) |
April 15 GNAC Track & Field Athletes of the Week
Women’s Track Athlete of the Week – Megan Roxby, Simon Fraser
First-career track athlete of the week.
Roxby’s 800 meters time was the fastest of any GNAC runner this spring, and it slated her fifth on the NCAA national performance list. Her 1,500 meters time was the ninth-fastest in GNAC outdoor history, and was the eighth-fastest by any Division II runner thus far during the 2024 outdoor season. Both times were collegiate personal bests for the North Vancouver, B.C., native.
“She is really coming into her own now, and has a vision to continue in the sport after she finishes her eligibility,” said SFU head coach Brit Townsend. “She has been really inspired for what is ahead for her, and she is ecstatic that it is finally coming along. She has really broken through mentally and I see good things in her future.”
Also Nominated: Blanca De Arvizu Sarrias, UAA; Zoe Gonzales, CWU; Cecily Eagleton, MSUB; Annika Esvelt, SPU; Caitlin Heldt, WOU; Caitlyn Cheney, WWU.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Week – Zuzanna Liniewski, Simon Fraser
First-career field athlete of the week.
Liniewski unleashed the conference’s top hammer throw this season, with a toss of 178’ 1” (54.27 meters) at the Cal State LA Twilight meet last week. That performance was good enough to slate the junior at No. 12 on the NCAA Division II performance list, and Liniewski placed sixth among 19 competitors at the event.
“That was a massive breakthrough for her,” said Townsend. “She has been knocking on the door of 50 (meters) for so long. To have a big throw like this come through was something that was unexpected for a lot of people, but expected by us. It was just a matter of when she could put it together mentally and physically.”
Also Nominated: Emy Ntekpere, CWU; Hannah Cooper, MSUB; Emily Powers, NNU; Ujunwa Nwokoma, WOU; Sydney Mohlman, WWU.
MEN’S TRACK & FIELD
Men’s Track Athlete of the Week – Joshua Caleb, Alaska Anchorage
Second-career track athlete of the week, second this season.
The reigning GNAC Indoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year cut loose in California last week, running the third-fastest 100 meters time in GNAC outdoor history at 10.34 seconds. That effort lifted Caleb’s name to the top of the GNAC performance list, and was the 12th-fastest time in Division II so far this season. Caleb also helped the UAA men run the 10th-fastest 4x100 meter relay time in GNAC history at 41.42 seconds, and he finished off his performance with a 400 meters time of 47.90 seconds.
Also Nominated: Josh Boast, CWU; Jaycee Herbert, MSUB; Jacob Hall, SFU; Keeton Sanchez, WOU; Ryan Clough, WWU.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Week – Wes Kriete, Central Washington
First-career field athlete of the week.
Kriete had a breakthrough performance in Portland last week, rising towards the top of the GNAC performance lists in both the shot put and discus. Kriete’s toss of 52’ 4.5” (15.96 meters) was the top shot put by a GNAC athlete this spring and stood as his collegiate best. He also recorded the conference’s third-best discus throw, with a distance of 148’ 1” (45.15 meters). Kriete placed second among a field of 41 competitors in the shot put and seventh among a field of 58 competitors in the discus.
“This rounds out what we try to be, and that is a complete team,” said CWU head coach Jonathan Hill. “From sprints to jumps to hurdles to throws, this is a representation of who we want to be. Wes’s energy in the ring was high, and I’m excited for him. It’s not easy to PR on top of a PR, and that’s what he was able to do in the shot put. In just his first year, it is exciting to see what he has learned and how he has grown. He looks like how you should in April.”
Also Nominated: Isaac Perkins, MSUB; Jarrett Chong, SFU; Troy Roberson, WWU.
GNAC Track In The Weekly Indoor Track & Field Rankings |
The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released national and regional rankings throughout the 2023-24 indoor track and field season. Below is a complete listing of this year's indoor rankings.
USTFCCCA West Region Rankings - Men's Indoor Track & Field |
Poll |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Team 3 |
Team 4 |
Team 5 |
Team 6 |
Team 7 |
Team 8 |
Team 9 |
Week 1 – 1/22 |
1. WWU |
3. WOU |
4. CWU |
5. SFU |
7. SPU |
8. MSUB |
9. NNU |
11. UAA |
12. SMU |
Week 2 – 1/29 |
1. WWU |
3. WOU |
4. SFU |
5. CWU |
7. NNU |
8. MSUB |
12. UAA |
13. SPU |
14. SMU |
Week 3 – 2/5 |
1. WWU |
3. WOU |
4. SFU |
5. CWU |
7. NNU |
11. MSUB |
12. UAA |
13. SPU |
14. SMU |
Week 4 – 2/12 |
1. WWU |
4. WOU |
5. CWU |
6. UAA |
7. SFU |
8. NNU |
13. MSUB |
15. SPU |
16. SMU |
Week 5 – 2/19 |
1. WWU |
3. WOU |
5. CWU |
6. SFU |
7. UAA |
8. NNU |
13. MSUB |
15. SPU |
16. SMU |
Week 6 – 2/26 |
1. WWU |
2. WOU |
6. CWU |
7. UAA |
8. SFU |
10. NNU |
12. MSUB |
15. SPU |
16. SMU |
Week 7 – 3/4 |
1. WWU |
2. WOU |
6. CWU |
7. UAA |
8. SFU |
10. NNU |
12. MSUB |
15. SPU |
16. SMU |
USTFCCCA West Region Rankings - Women's Indoor Track & Field |
Poll |
Team 1 |
Team 2 |
Team 3 |
Team 4 |
Team 5 |
Team 6 |
Team 7 |
Team 8 |
Team 9 |
Week 1 – 1/22 |
3. CWU |
4. WWU |
5. WOU |
6. SFU |
12. SPU |
13. MSUB |
14. NNU |
15. UAA |
16. SMU |
Week 2 – 1/29 |
2. WWU |
5. CWU |
6. SFU |
8. WOU |
10. SPU |
12. NNU |
14. UAA |
16. SMU |
17. MSUB |
Week 3 – 2/5 |
3. WWU |
5. CWU |
6. SFU |
11. SPU |
12. WOU |
13. SMU |
14. NNU |
17. UAA |
18. MSUB |
Week 4 – 2/12 |
4. WWU |
6. CWU |
8. SFU |
11. SPU |
12. WOU |
13. UAA |
14. UAA |
15. NNU |
18. MSUB |
Week 5 – 2/19 |
3. WWU |
5. CWU |
8. SFU |
10. SPU |
11. WOU |
13. UAA |
14. SMU |
15. NNU |
18. MSUB |
Week 6 – 2/26 |
3. WWU |
4. CWU |
7. SFU |
10. SPU |
11. WOU |
12. UAA |
14. SMU |
15. NNU |
18. MSUB |
Week 7 – 3/4 |
3. WWU |
4. CWU |
7. SFU |
10. SPU |
11. WOU |
12. UAA |
14. SMU |
15. NNU |
18. MSUB |
USTFCCCA Conference TFRI Rankings – Women’s Indoor Track & Field
USTFCCCA Conference TFRI Rankings – Men’s Indoor Track & Field
USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings – Women’s Indoor Track & Field
USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings – Men’s Indoor Track & Field
2024 Indoor Provisional National Qualifying Marks |
View a complete listing of provisional qualifying marks obtained by GNAC student-athletes at the links below.