PORTLAND, Ore. – A handful of provisional national qualifying marks by Great Northwest Athletic Conference track and field athletes highlighted the latest list of GNAC Players of the Week, announced on Monday.
 
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
E’lexis Hollis – Central Washington University
Seventh-career track athlete of the week, first this season.
 
Hollis showed no signs of rust in her 2024-25 season debut, running the fastest 60 meters time in Division II this season at 7.37 seconds. That was good enough to top a finals field that featured six NCAA Division I runners at the Spokane Invitational, and it was just 0.08 seconds off her GNAC indoor record of 7.29 seconds in the event. The Wildcat senior followed by clocking the fourth-fastest time in Division II in the 200 meters, finishing second in 24.26 seconds behind only University of Washington’s Danielle Hunter. Hollis’s PR time was the third-fastest in GNAC history. Hollis is last year’s indoor champion in the 60 meters and runner-up in the 200 meters, and she led the Wildcat women to the 4x100 meter relay GNAC title at last year’s GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
CWU Head Coach Jonathan Hill: “E’lexis had a really nice opening weekend. She has been working hard on details of her race and looking for areas to improve in. I am pleased with her start in the 60, and am really happy with how she has embraced the 200. Her confidence is growing because of the work she has been putting in.”
 
Also Nominated: Hannah Chang, Seattle Pacific; Bec Bennett, Western Washington.
 

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WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Kora Cook – Western Washington University
First-career field athlete of the week.
 
Cook notched a preliminary mark in the high jump in her season debut, topping a field of 18 competitors clearing 5-9.25 feet (1.76 meters). That was the second-best high jump effort among Division II competitors thus far in 2024-25, and it was tied for the third best in GNAC indoor track & field history. Cook soared past her previous collegiate best of 5-3.75 feet (1.62 meters) which she reached twice during her freshman campaign last winter.
 
Also Nominated: Emy Ntekpere, Central Washington; Emily Thomason, Seattle Pacific.
 

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MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Keeton Sanchez – Western Oregon University
First-career track athlete of the week.
 
Sanchez had a successful opening to his 2024-25 campaign, winning the 800 meters among a field of 16 competitors at the Spokane Invitational. The senior clocked in with a time of 1:52.17, marking the fifth time in his collegiate career he has cleared the 1:53 barrier. Sanchez was just 0.05 seconds off his all-time PR of 1:52.12, which he set during the 2022-23 outdoor campaign. His time on Saturday slots him at No. 8 on the Division II performance list to start the season. Sanchez is the reigning GNAC indoor champion in the 800 meters.
 
Also Nominated: Andrew Bell, Seattle Pacific; Nolan Mickenham, Western Washington.
 

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MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Mark Warren – Western Oregon University
Fourth-career field athlete of the week, first this season.
 
The reigning GNAC indoor champion in the weight throw opened his senior campaign with a personal best, launching a toss of 59-7 feet (18.16 meters). That was enough to beat a field of 32 competitors at Saturday’s Spokane Invitational, and Warren moved his name up to No. 8 on the GNAC indoor all-time performance list. Warren also posted his first shot put mark of the season at 44-8 feet (13.61 meters).
 
Also Nominated: Noah Turner, Western Washington.
 

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MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grant Kepley – Western Washington University
First-career player of the week.
 
Kepley had a highlight-reel double-double in Sunday’s 92-56 win over Langara, scoring 15 points and adding a dozen assists. Kepley was equally efficient scoring and distributing the ball, making 6 of 8 field goals including a pair of threes. He added four rebounds, two steals and a block to his stat line, and upped his season field-goal percentage to 53.5% which ranks him 10th in the conference. Kepley’s 12 assists were the most by a GNAC player in a game this season.
 
WWU Head Coach Tony Dominguez: “Grant did a great job of controlling the tempo of the game and was highly effective on both sides of the ball. His energy and leadership helped us to perform at a high level. He was very effective at playmaking and setting up his teammates.”
 
Also Nominated: Cavin Holden, Central Washington; Jalen Tot, Montana State Billings; Kye Dickson, Northwest Nazarene; Owen Moriarty, Seattle Pacific.
 

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aspen Giese – Montana State University Billings
Second-career player of the week, second this season.
 
Giese led the Yellowjackets to a pair of wins last week, as they took down Rocky Mountain College 77-49 and Montana Western 79-53 to extend their winning streak to 10 games. Playing a key role in both wins, Giese kicked off her week by scoring a season-high 23 points while adding four rebounds, three steals a block and an assist against the Battlin’ Bears. Giese’s seven made threes in the game were a career best and tied for the most by any GNAC player this season. She followed with a dozen points, seven rebounds two steals and two assists in the game against the Bulldogs. Overall on the week Giese shot 57.9% from 3-point range (11-for-19) while averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Giese leads the team with 13.5 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game, and her 2.8 made threes per game rank her fourth in the conference.
 
MSUB Head Coach Kevin Woodin: “Aspen had a terrific week, especially offensively from the 3-point line. She has the ability to score at all three levels. Her teammates created great looks for her and she consistently knocked down shots in both games last week. Aspen is an elite two-way player who is effective on both ends. In addition, her senior leadership has been an important key to our team’s success.”
 
Also Nominated: Hunter Beirne, Seattle Pacific; Natalie Brown, Western Oregon.