MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program put together a strong two-day performance at the 2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with the Viking men defending its team title with a record-breaking point total and the women placing 2^nd.
 
During the two-day meet at McArthur Stadium on the Western Oregon University campus. WWU totaled 39 All-GNAC performances recording a podium finish (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd) and 15 event winners.
 
The men broke the meet record with 289 points to win its eighth outdoor title, and have now won the last five GNAC men's titles in indoor track (2019, 2020), outdoor track (2019, 2021) and cross country (2019). The winning score for the Vikings surpassed the previous GNAC Championships record of 259.5 points set by Western Oregon in 2003. The Vikings won 11 of the meet's 21 events on the men's side to finish well ahead of second-place Western Oregon with 145 points.
 
WWU was led by double winners Cordell Cummings (110m and 400m Hurdles) and an impressive distance double by Eric Hamel in the 10,000m and 5,000m. Cummings was also a key piece of the winning 4x400 relay team, making him a 10-time GNAC winner during his Western career.
 
A day after the Vikings swept the steeplechase and gained 21 points in the 10,00m, WWU's distance runners again provided a lift in the dominating team effort. Senior Calahan Warren won the 1500m (3:57.44) and placed 2^nd in the 800m (1:53.96). Junior Mac Franks had three All-GNAC performances, winning the 800m (1:53.51), and placing 3^rd in both the steeplechase (9:02.86) and the 1500m (3:57.98).
 
Sprinter Bryant Welch won the 200m (21.72), placed 3^rd in the 400m (48.54) and was part of the winning 4x400 relay (3:15.93).
 
The women scored 168 points to place 2^nd behind three-time defending champion Seattle Pacific (208), tying for the highest finish by the Vikings in the 18-year history of the GNAC Outdoor Championships. WWU also placed 2^nd in 2010, 2011 and 2014.
 
WWU was led by three All-GNAC performances from Aliyah Dawkins. The sophomore won the high jump Friday (1.73m/5-8) and had runner-up finishes in the long jump (5.89m/19-4) and the 100m Hurdles (14.25).
 
Senior Karlie Hurley won the triple jump (11.76m/38-7) and placed 2^nd in the 200m (24.74) to earn a pair of All-GNAC honors.
 
WWU again showed its depth in the javelin, with four women finishing in the top six in the event. Senior Natalie Vetto took top honors with a throw of 44.71m/146-8 to increase her season-best mark and senior Amanda Short earned All-GNAC honors finishing 3^rd with a provisional qualifying mark of 43.15m/141-7.
  Here is a look at the final team scores for both the men and women for the 2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The WWU men set the meet record with the 289 points, bettering the previous record of 259.5 points by Western Oregon in 2003.
 

Men's Team Scores			Women's Team Scores
PL	Team	Pts	PL	Team	Pts
1.	Western Washington	289	1.	Seattle Pacific	208
2.	Western Oregon	145	2.	Western Washington	168
3.	Central Washington	130	3.	Central Washington	132.5
4.	Northwest Nazarene	76	4.	Northwest Nazarene	98.5
5.	Saint Martin's	61	5.	Western Oregon	92
6.	Seattle Pacific	44	6.	Alaska Anchorage	52.5
7.	Alaska Anchorage	36	7.	Saint Martin's	45.5
8.	Montana St. Billings	35	8.	Montana St. Billings	21

  Senior Cordell Cummings added another chapter to his storied career, winning both the 110m and 400m hurdles, and added a third podium finish with the winning 4x400 relay team. Cummings has now won 10 GNAC titles in his career, six during the outdoor championships, two during the indoor season and was a member of a pair of winning relay teams at the outdoor championships. He repeated as the GNAC Male Track Athlete of the Meet sweeping the hurdles for the second consecutive championships, and became the second athlete in the 18-year history of the outdoor championships to win three consecutive 110m hurdle titles (2018-19-21), joining Robert Edwards of Central Washington (2005-06-07).
 

  Senior Eric Hamel became the second runner in the 18-year history of the GNAC Outdoor Championships to win both the 10,000m (Friday) and the 5,000m (Saturday). Hamel joined Marko Chesto of Alaska Anchorage, who won both events in the 2010 championships.
  Here is a look at the All-GNAC performances by WWU student-athletes from conference championships held Friday and Saturday in Monmouth, Oregon. The Vikings had 39 total All-GNAC performances by the men's and women's teams to earn 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd place, with the men also sweeping the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. All-GNAC honors are awarded for podium finishes (1-2-3) in individual events and to members of the winning relay squads:
 
Men's All-GNAC Performers (23):

• Cordell Cummings, 110m Hurdles, 1^st Place (14.50)
• Cordell Cummings, 400m Hurdles, 1^st Place (52.75)
• Calahan Warren, 1500m, 1^st Place (3:57.44)
• Mac Franks, 800m, 1^st Place (1:53.51)
• Jeret Gillingham, Steeplechase, 1^st Place (8:55.30) – WWU Record, T-4^th in GNAC history
• Ben Malquist, Shot Put, 1^st Place (16.76m/55-0) – 3^rd in WWU history, 8^th in GNAC history
• Eric Hamel, 10,000m, 1^st Place (31:11.96)
• Eric Hamel, 5000m, 1^st Place (14:39.87) – 8^th in WWU history
• Bryant Welch, 200m, 1^st Place (21.72) – 4^th in WWU history
• Kacey Provo, Pole Vault, 2^nd Place (4.58m/15-0.25)
• Kaleb Korta, Steeplechase, 2^nd Place (9:01.36) – 3^rd in WWU history
• Calahan Warren, 800m, 2^nd Place (1:53.96)
• Trent Kibler, High Jump, 2^nd Place (1.98m/6-6)
• Mac Franks, Steeplechase, 3^rd Place (9:02.86) – 4^th in WWU history
• Mac Franks, 1500m, 3^rd Place (3:57.98)
• Kevin McDermott, 10,000m, 3^rd Place (31:34.09)
• Tyrone Woodard, 100m, 3^rd Place (10.84)
• Bryant Welch, 400m, 3^rd Place (48.54)
• Jaden Edwards, 400m Hurdles, 3^rd Place (55.28)
• Koby Okezie, 110m Hurdles, 3^rd Place (14.60)
• Damian Mercado, High Jump, 3^rd Place (1.95m/6-4.75)
• David Tran, Long Jump, 3^rd Place (6.96m/22-10)
• David Tran, Triple Jump, 3^rd Place (13.88m/45-6.5) 

Women's All-GNAC Performers (16):

• Talia Dreicer, Steeplechase, 1^st Place (11:04.04)
• Aliyah Dawkins, High Jump, 1^st Place (1.73m/5-8) – T-2^nd in WWU history, 7^th in GNAC history
• Karlie Hurley, Triple Jump, 1^st Place (11.76m/38-7)
• Natalie Vetto, Javelin, 1^st Place (44.71m/146-8)
• Jessica Neal, High Jump, 2^nd Place (1.70m/5-7) – 7^th in WWU history
• Aliyah Dawkins, Long Jump, 2^nd Place (5.89m/19-4) – 2^nd in WWU history, 8^th in GNAC history
• Katie Potts, Discus, 2^nd Place (41.43m/135-11)
• Karlie Hurley, 200m, 2^nd Place (24.74)
• Aliyah Dawkins, 100m Hurdles, 2^nd Place (14.25) – 4^th in WWU history
• Devon Olson, Triple Jump, 2^nd Place (11.68m/38-4)
• Karlie Hurley, Long Jump, 3^rd Place (5.70m/18-8.5) – 7^th in WWU history
• Ila Davis, Steeplechase, 3^rd Place (11:16.34) – 7^th in WWU history
• Taliah Coe, Discus, 3^rd Place (39.97m/131-1)
• Raine Westfall, Hammer Throw, 3^rd Place (48.42m/158-10) – 4^th in WWU history
• Amanda Short, Javelin, 3^rd Place (43.15m/141-7)
• Annie Tran, Pole Vault, 3^rd Place (3.45m/11-3.75)