By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – Putting forth a handful of positive marks in its 2025-26 track and field season debut, the Central Washington women’s track team was selected as the Athletic Solutions Great Northwest Athletic Conference Team of the Week.
 
CWU had a test run at the site of the 2026 GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, competing at the Spokane Invitational at The Podium on Saturday.
 
The Wildcats’ strong showing was piloted by sprinter Ashlyn Nielsen, who posted a pair of GNAC indoor all-time top-10 performances on her way to earning GNAC Female Track Athlete of the Week. Nielsen had a provisional qualifying time of 7.57 seconds in the 60 meters finishing fourth overall among 39 competitors and posting the top non-Division I time. She then won the 200 meters ahead of 25 other competitors, running a time of 24.37 seconds. The sophomore climbed to No. 15 nationally in the 60 meters and No. 5 nationally in the 200 meters. Her 60 meters time ranks her eighth in GNAC indoor history and her 200 meters time was sixth-fastest in conference indoor history.
 
Senior Elise Hopper also competed in the 60 meters, running a personal-best time of 7.84 seconds. Ellie DeGroot and Emy Ntekpere also ran well in the 60-meter hurdles, finishing second and third, respectively, with times of 8.80 seconds and 8.92 seconds in the finals.
 
Another GNAC all-time top-10 indoor mark came from junior Maliyah Gordon in the weight throw. She achieved that feat on her fifth attempt, launching a toss of 56-3.25 feet (17.15 meters). Gordon also led the Wildcats in the shot put, with a throw of 42-8.75 feet (13.02 meters).
 
Ntekpere, the reigning NCAA Division II national champion in the triple jump, got her season started with a leap of 40-1.5 feet (12.23 meters) to win that competition. Freshman Azariah Miller was fourth at 37-1.75 feet (11.32 meters) and senior Tehya Moore finished sixth at 36-11 feet (11.25 meters). CWU also got a boost from freshman Felicity Taula in the shot put, as she finished 10th at 39-0.5 feet (11.90 meters).
 
Meggie Kilcup represented the CWU women in the 600 meters, running a time of 1:38.70 to place fifth. Heidi Gill competed in the mile, running 5:51.50 minutes in her season debut. Kilcup also ran a leg of CWU’s top 4x400 meter relay team at the meet, which posted a time of 4:00.42 minutes. That quartet also included Hopper, Sam Delay and Layla Fields.
 
The CWU women are coming off a strong showing in 2024-25 at both the conference and national meets. The Wildcats placed second at last year’s GNAC Indoor Championships with a team score of 114 points, before going on to finish ninth at the NCAA Championships with a team score of 19 points. CWU’s track and field program is led by head coach Jonathan Hill, who is in his third season in charge in Ellensburg.
 
CWU is next in action after the winter break, as it will toe the line at the UW Preview in Seattle running Jan. 16-17. The Wildcats have four more indoor meets on the calendar prior to the GNAC Championships, which are set for Feb. 16-17.
 
GNAC Team of the Week presented by Athletic Solutions
Athletic Solutions was introduced as an official partner of the GNAC on Dec. 8, 2025 and it will sponsor the GNAC Team of the Week award. Athletic Solutions is a national leader in NIL fan engagement and e-commerce technology, collaborating with colleges and universities to bring NIL Locker Rooms to life. Its platform simplifies NIL opportunities, providing student-athletes with the tools and exposure needed to thrive in the evolving landscape of college athletics.