NAMPA, Idaho – Led by a first-place finish in the long jump and a 4th-place performance in the high jump by sophomore Ethan Sterkel, the Western Washington University men's squad is off to a commanding lead after the first day of the 2020 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships held Friday at Jackson's Indoor Track.
The WWU men are in good position to defend their team indoor title totaling 53 points in the first day of competition, well ahead of second-place Alaska Anchorage with 34 points. The Viking women are in 4th place with 33 points through the first day of competition.
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MEN'S TEAM SCORES
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WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES
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Team
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Pts
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PL
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Team
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Pts
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1.
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Western Washington
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53
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1.
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Seattle Pacific
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40
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2.
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Alaska Anchorage
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34
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2.
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Central Washington
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39
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3.
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Central Washington
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27
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3.
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Concordia (OR)
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37
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4.
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Simon Fraser
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26
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4.
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Western Washington
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33
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5.
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Saint Martin's
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22
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5.
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Simon Fraser
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23
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6.
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Concordia (OR)
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20
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6.
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Alaska Anchorage
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20
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7.
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Montana St. Billings
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5
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7.
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Saint Martin's
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16
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8.
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Seattle Pacific
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4
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8.
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Western Oregon
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15
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9.
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Western Oregon
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3
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9.
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Northwest Nazarene
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8
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10.
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Northwest Nazarene
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1
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10.
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Montana St. Billings
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3
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The first day of competition at the GNAC Indoor Championships was highlighted by 17 entries into the program all-time top-10 record book, including a school-record long jump mark by Sterkel. The sophomore from Longview won the long jump with a mark of 7.23m/23-8.75 for the longest jump in WWU indoor history and 3rd-longest indoor or outdoor mark by any Viking. His jump also registered as an NCAA II provisional qualifying mark and tied for the 4th-longest in GNAC history.
In addition to the 10 points earned in the long jump, Sterkel placed 4th in the high jump clearing 2.01m/6-7 to earn 5 additional points for the 15-point first-day total. His high jump mark moved up to No. 4 in WWU indoor history.
Senior Tupre Wickliff placed 3rd in the high jump obtaining an indoor PR (and tied his overall PR) of 2.06m/6-9 for 6 team points to earn All-GNAC honors and record an NCAA II provisional mark.
The Vikings recorded 16 points in the long jump with Sterkel (1st, 10 points), freshman Ryan Greenwalt placed 3rd to earn All-GNAC honors (6.92m/22-8.5, 6 points) and Seren Dances was 8th(6.73m/22-1, 1 point).
LONG DISTANCE FOR LOTS OF POINTS
The WWU men also totaled 14 points in the 5,000m, led by a 2nd-place finish to earn All-GNAC honors by junior Ed Kiolbasa in 14:51.79 and a 4th-place performance by freshman Deyago Peraza (15:04.76).
The WWU women were led by a 2nd-place finish in the pole vault by senior Lexi Perry, who cleared an indoor collegiate best 3.53m/11-7. The Vikings earned 13 points in the pole vault with freshmanMadison Fassiotto placing 5th (3.38m/11-1) and Sophie Paradis 8th (3.08m/10-1.25).
FRESHMAN LONG JUMPER LEADS THE WAY
Freshman Matty Lagerwey placed 6th in the long jump with a mark of 5.56m/18-3, the 5th-best mark in WWU indoor history.
PENTATHLON TOP FIVE FINISH
Sophomore Aliyah Dawkins placed 5th out of 14 competitors in the pentathlon to earn 5 points, totaling 3,239 points. Already WWU's school record holder with 3,310 points obtained earlier this season, Dawkins set PR's in the 60m Hurdles (9.13) and 800m (2:40.49).
GALVEZ EARNS ALL-GNAC HONOR
Senior Sophia Galvez earned All-GNAC honors for her 3rd-place finish in the 5,000m with a time of 18:04.94.
Junior Myles Smith qualified for the finals in the 400m (2nd, 49.36) and 200m (5th, 22.31), both personal-best marks for the indoor season. Smith moved up to No. 5 in the 400m in the WWU record book and No. 7 in the 200m.
OKEZIE DAZZLES IN HURDLES (AND SPRINTS)
Sophomore Koby Okezie qualified for the finals in both the 60m Hurdles (his specialty) and the 60m with a pair of personal-best performances. Okezie was the fastest qualifier in the 60m Hurdles, recording the 4th-best time in WWU and 10th-best in GNAC history in 8.29. Okezie also set a PR and qualified 7th in the 60m finishing in 7.09.
CUMMINGS TO DEFEND HURDLES TITLE
Senior Cordell Cummings was the 4th-fastest qualifier in the 60m Hurdles and defend his title on Saturday after running 8.44 on Friday.
REDEMPTION IN THE 200 FOR BRADLEY
After just missing out on the finals in the 60m, senior Hannah Bradley rebounded with a career-best time in the 200m clocking 25.44 for the 3rd-best time in WWU indoor history.
SOLID 800m TIMES FROM KONRAD AND TAYLOR
Junior Shawnee Konrad qualified 4th in the 800m with a PR time of 2:16.60 and sophomore Annika Taylor was 5th in 2:17.73. Konrad moved up to No. 3 in WWU history and Taylor remained at No. 5 with her PR. Both will go for All-GNAC honors in Saturday's final.
Fans can follow the competition live online via live results at GNAC.live. A complete recap with full results will be posted following competition on Friday and Saturday at WWUVikings.com/TF.
GNAC CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
The final day of the 2020 GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships features the men's heptathlon wrapping up with the final three events starting at 8:45 am MT/7:45 am PT, field events at 9:45 am MT/8:45 am PT and running events at 11 am MT/10 am PT.
Here are some handy links on how to follow the 2020 GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships:
· Live Results
· First Day Results
· Meet Schedule
· Program
· Event Information
· Performance Lists
· Start List
· GNAC Notebook
The Vikings made 17 entries into the program top 10 indoor record book during the first day of competition at the GNAC Indoor Championships, including a school-record long jump by sophomore Ethan Sterkel. Including improved marks from Friday, the Vikings have now made 43 entries (Women – 22, Men – 21) into the program's all-time top-10 indoor record book.
