By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor track & field top-10 lists got a major face lift over the weekend, thanks in large part to a statement performance by Simon Fraser.
 
The Red Leafs put together numerous headline performances at the University of Washington Preview meet in Seattle last week, and were recognized for their efforts by earning the Athletic Solutions GNAC Team of the Week award on Monday.
 
SFU combined to land seven names on the GNAC indoor top-10 lists between its women’s and men’s teams, had 10 NCAA provisional qualifying marks and 18 personal bests. “This past weekend at the UW Preview meet was arguably our best indoor opener in the history of our NCAA participation,” said SFU head coach Brit Townsend. “What was most exciting was that all of these performances came across multiple event areas. This young team is talented and motivated, and I am inspired by their resilience during these changing times. The next two years in the NCAA are going to be amazing.”
 
Leading the way was senior sprinter Emma Cannan, who was tabbed GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week. Cannan broke the GNAC indoor record in the 400 meters, running a time of 53.56 seconds to win the event among a field of 28 competitors. That topped former Red Leaf Marie-Eloise Leclairs conference record time of 53.82 seconds achieved during the 2022-23 indoor season. Cannan also hit a personal-best time of 7.44 seconds in the 60 meters, winning that event as well. Her time was third-fastest in conference history as she moved within 0.15 seconds of the GNAC record 7.29 seconds set by Central Washington’s E’lexis Hollis in 2023-24. Cannan now sits at No. 2 on the NCAA Division II national performance list in the 400 meters and No. 7 on the list in the 60 meters.
 
“Emma has shown consistent and dramatic improvement over the last three years at SFU,” said Townsend. “She is determined and dedicated to being the best sprinter we have ever had on the women’s side. This past weekend marked a massive breakthrough in the 400 meters  for her. We are very excited to see where the rest of the season will take her.”
 
The men’s team was led by true freshman Zach Jeggo, who took home GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week recognition. The Canadian high school national champion came as advertised, cruising to the second-fastest 400 meters time in GNAC indoor history in his collegiate debut last week. Posting a win among a field of 23 competitors at the UW Preview, Jeggo ran 47.29 seconds. That was just 0.07 seconds shy of the GNAC indoor record of 47.22 seconds, set by Alaska Anchorage’s Joshua Caleb last year. Jeggo also contributed a leg on SFU’s 4x400 meter relay team, which took third place with a time of 3:17.27 minutes. The true freshman now sits third on the NCAA Division II national performance list in the 400 meters.
 
”Zachary Jeggo is one of the most exciting sprinters we have ever had at SFU,” said Townsend. “He was number one last year in the men’s U20 400 meter hurdles for Canada, and this past weekend he confirmed that he is already one of the best in the NCAA. Zach is a great competitor who is composed and determined. We are very excited to see what the future will bring for him.”
 
SFU’s women’s runners were also led by Raiya Matonovich, who posted the third-fastest mile time in GNAC history at 4:42.62 minutes. That slotted the freshman 14th overall and the top mark by a Division II competitor in the event. It was the second-fastest mile time in the NCAA this season as well.
 
In the 3,000 meters, SFU’s Rachael Watkins made the spotlight as she ran the eighth-fastest indoor time in GNAC history. Watkins clocked in at 9:36.13 minutes, her fastest collegiate time in that event. It moved Watkins’ name up to No. 6 on the NCAA Division II performance list. Steph Millar and Veronica Dee each posted preliminary qualifying marks in the 800 meters. Millar ran 2:12.33 minutes for the 10th-fastest time on the national list, while Dee’s time of 2:12.64 put her name at 12th.
 
Olivia Windbiel was the Red Leaf women’s top field performer, notching a triple jump of 39-0.5 feet (11.90 meters) which was good for No. 16 on the NCAA performance list. Other notable women’s performances came in the 200 meters, where Jaeland Cummings and Kerlinda Chatwin ran the second- and third-fastest times in the GNAC at 24.70 seconds and 25.27 seconds, respectively.
 
Taking after Cannan’s lead, Jacob Hall had a strong performance to represent the SFU men’s sprinters. Hall posted a personal-best 60-meters time of 6.75 seconds, which stands as third-fastest in conference history. It also put his name 12th on the national performance list.
 
In the 800 meters, junior Colton Plummer checked in with a time of 1:49.38 minutes to slate him fourth in Division II this season. Braden Ahl set the season standard within the GNAC for the mile, running a conference-best time of 4:13.10 minutes. He also turned in a time of 8:25.94 minutes in the 3,000 meters.
 
A youthful SFU men’s jump crew also had a successful showing last week. Daanish Adams posted the second-best triple jump in the GNAC this season at 46-7.5 feet (14.21 meters) and landed a long jump of 20-8.5 feet (6.31 meters). Leupold Wang had the second-best high jump in the GNAC this season at 6-4.75 feet (1.95 meters), and Nathan Roth had the conference’s second-best long jump at 22-9.25 feet (6.94 meters).
 
The Red Leafs are gearing up for a busy stretch with four more meets on the calendar prior to the 2026 GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships (Feb. 16-17). SFU is projected to send athletes to both the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic as well as the UW Invitational this weekend. The team will also compete at the Nevada Wolf Pack Classic (Feb. 5-7) and the UW Husky Classic (Feb. 13-14) as it looks to build off last week’s marks.
 
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.