Tuesday, May 17, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – After an exciting GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships last week, a total of 49 conference athletes have received entry to the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which will be held May 26-28 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

The championships invitees from the GNAC includes 26 women and 29 men representing all 10 conference programs. Western Washington leads the list with 12 athletes invited. They also lead the women’s selections from the conference with seven. Alaska Anchorage will send 10 athletes to nationals plus their men’s 4x400-meter relay.

Of the 12 entrants for the Vikings, four will compete in the women’s javelin. Bethany Drake and Katie Reichert earned automatic invitations in the event while Mariah Horton and Anosi Laupola earned provisional entries. The 22-person javelin field includes a total of six GNAC athletes. The four WWU athletes are joined by Saint Martin’s Deanna Avalos and Northwest Nazarene’s Ellie Logan.

Western Oregon leads the list of men’s entries, sending seven athletes. Three will be among a GNAC best six entered in the 800 meters: Josh Dempsey, Josh Hanna and Badane Sultessa. The trio of Wolves are joined in the event by Alaska Anchorage’s Joe Day and Simon Fraser’s Cameron Proceviat.

Five women will be among the 21 entrants in the women’s 5,000 meters. Joining automatic qualifier Joyce Chelimo of Alaska Anchorage and her teammate, Caroline Kurgat, Saint Martin’s Shannon Porter, Simon Fraser’s Rebecca Bassett and Western Washington’s Brittany Grant. Chelimo and Kurgat are also automatically qualified in the 10,000 meters.

Other automatic qualifiers from the GNAC for the national meet include Western Oregon’s David Ribich and Simon Fraser’s Marc-Antoine Rouleau in the men’s 1,500 meters, Northwest Nazarene’s Payton Lewis in the men’s pole vault, Alaska Anchorage’s Cody Parker in the javelin and Cody Thomas in the decathlon.

GNAC ENTRIES TO NCAA DIVISION II OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
MEN
Alaska Anchorage: Henry Cheseto (5,000 Meters, 10,000 Meters), Joe Day (800 Meters), Nathan Kipchumba (800 Meters), Cody Parker (Javelin), Cody Thomas (Decathlon), 4x400m Relay.
Central Washington: Armando Tafoya (Hammer).
Montana State Billings: Robert Peterson (Steeplechase).
Northwest Nazarene: Payton Lewis (Pole Vault).
Saint Martin’s: Mikel Smith (High Jump).
Simon Fraser: Cameron Proceviat (800 Meters), Marc-Antoine Rouleau (1,500 Meters).
Western Oregon: Josh Dempsey (800 Meters), Josh Hanna (800 Meters), Justin Larson (Javelin), Sam Naffziger (1,500 Meters), David Ribich (1,500 Meters), Badane Sultessa (800 Meters), Cody Warner (200 Meters).
Western Washington: Alex Barry (Javelin), Alex Donigian (100 Meters, 200 Meters), John Haskin (Javelin), Matt Lutz (Steeplechase), Travis Milbrandt (110m Hurdles).

WOMEN
Alaska Anchorage: Jamie Ashcroft (100 Meters, 200 Meters), Joyce Chelimo (5,000 Meters, 10,000 Meters), Caroline Kurgat (5,000 Meters, 10,000 Meters), Jessica Pahkala (1,500 Meters), Tamara Perez (800 Meters, 1,500 Meters).
Central Washington: Erin Chinchar (Steeplechase), Dani Eggleston (Steeplechase), Tayler Fettig (High Jump).
Montana State Billings: Della Lyle (Steeplechase).
Northwest Nazarene: Ellie Logan (Javelin).
Saint Martin’s: Deanna Avalos (Javelin), Shannon Porter (1,500 Meters, 5,000 Meters)
Seattle Pacific: Jahzelle Ambus (400 Meters), Lynelle Decker (800 Meters, 1,500 Meters), Geneva Lehnert (High Jump), Maliea Luquin (100m Hurdles), Jalen Tims (400m Hurdles).
Simon Fraser: Rebecca Bassett (5,000 Meters).
Western Oregon: Stephanie Stuckey (1,500 Meters)
Western Washington: Bethany Drake (Javelin), Brittany Grant (5,000 Meters, Steeplechase), Mariah Horton (Javelin), Anosi Laupola (Javelin), Megan Mortensen (Discus), Miranda Osadchey (High Jump), Katie Reichert (Javelin).