BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field team is in final preparations for the upcoming conference championships and will be back in action this weekend at the two-day Husky Classic at Dempsey Indoor in Seattle.
 
The Vikings are ramping up to the postseason of the indoor season with the GNAC Championships quickly approaching February 21-22 at The Podium in Spokane. WWU will send a group of 23 student-athletes to Seattle for the Husky Classic.
 
The indoor season has been highlighted by six program records and 32 entries into the top-10 record book. The WWU men are ranked No. 1 in the West Region for the second consecutive week in the USTFCCCA TFRI, while the women are No. 5 (2nd in the GNAC).
 
Competition at the Husky Classic begins at 2 pm on Friday and 10 am on Saturday. Information for spectators and how to follow the meet online can be found at GoHuskies.com. Meet results, a detailed recap and updated top-10 record book will be posted on wwuvikings.com/TF following the conclusion of each day of competition.
  Here is a preliminary list of WWU student-athletes scheduled to compete in the Husky Classic:
 
Women's Team Members:

• Aliyah Dawkins (High Jump, 60m Hurdles, Long Jump)
• Carmen Cleveland Barrera (Shot Put)
• Mattison Crook (Shot Put, Weight Throw)
• Jasmine Kaufman (Shot Put)
• Katie Potts (Shot Put, Weight Throw)
• Annie Tran (Pole Vault)
• Raine Westfall (Weight Throw)

 
Men's Team Members:

• Lucas Brenek (4x400 Relay)
• Seren Dances (High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump)
• Hunter Flick (60m Hurdles)
• Mac Franks (3000m)
• Tyrel Halme (Pole Vault)
• Ryan Henry (60m, 200m)
• Brian Le (400m, 4x400 Relay)
• Jerrod Lee (Shot Put, Weight Throw)
• Cyrus McAllister (200m)
• Kevin McDermott (5000m)
• Ben Malquist (Shot Put)
• Jon Oglesby (400m, 4x400 Relay)
• Denzel Pinto (400m, 4x400 Relay)
• Beau Sheeran (High Jump)
• Bryant Welch (4x400 Relay)
• Ryan Witters (400m)

  The third installment of the USTFCCCA Regional TFRI (Track & Field Ratings Index) was released this week with the Vikings checking in with the following West Region rankings:
 

• Men: No. 1 (533.97) – No. 1 in the GNAC
• Women – No. 5 (219.56) – No. 2 in the GNAC

  The group of Kevin McDermott (1200m), Bryant Welch (400m), Drew Weber (800m) and Mac Franks (1600m) set the program record in the DMR last weekend in Spokane with a time of 9:50.83. That mark is currently ranked No. 8 in the nation. Just one week earlier at the UW Invitational, McDermott, Mark Daniels, Landon Sturdevant and Franks broke the record in a time of 9:54.13, bettering the previous mark of 9:55.00 set in 2007 by Sam Brancheau, Adam Neff, Erik Bies and Antony Tomsich.
  Here is a look at where top WWU individuals and relays rank in NCAA Division II by recording a provisional qualifying mark:
 

• Mac Franks: 800m – No. 16 (1:51.47), 3000m – No. 33 (8:14.59), Mile – No. 30 (4:08.41)
• Will Henry: 800m – No. 47 (1:52.82)
• Kevin McDermott: 3000m – No. 53 (8:19.37), Mile – No. 51 (4:10.37)
• Hunter Flick: 60m Hurdles – No. 15 (8.07)
• Ethan Sterkel: Long Jump – No. 22 (7.25m/23-9.5)
• Aliyah Dawkins: High Jump – No. 22 (1.68m/5-6)
• Men's DMR: No. 8 (9:50.83)

  For the third time this season and second consecutive week Ethan Sterkel has been selected as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Track & Field Men's Field Athlete of the Week. Sterkel placed third in the long jump at the WSU Invitational last Saturday with a mark of 7.15m/23-5.5. He also placed 11th in the high jump at the WSU Open clearing 1.90m/6-2.75. He also earned the GNAC Field Athlete of the Week honor following the UW Preview (Jan. 10-16) and the UW Invitational (Jan. 24-30), marking three straight competitions the junior from Longview has earned the weekly conference award. Sterkel currently ranks No. 22 in NCAA Division II with his top long jump mark of the season (7.25m/23-9.5). He leads all GNAC competitors in the long jump and is tied for the top spot in the high jump with the conference championships quickly approaching February 21-22 at The Podium in Spokane.
  The WWU Track & Field team will next be in action February 21-22 (Monday-Tuesday) at the GNAC Championships at The Podium in Spokane. The final regular-season meet will be the SPU Final Qualifier on February 26, with nationals in Birmingham, Alabama March 11-12. The full 2021-22 WWU Indoor Track & Field schedule (in addition to the tentative outdoor schedule) can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/TF.
  Tickets are now on sale for the 2022 GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships as the annual event moves this month to the Northwest's newest and best indoor track facility. The 2022 meet will take on Monday, Feb. 21 and Tuesday, Feb. 22 at The Podium in Spokane, Washington. Advanced purchase general admission tickets are $15 per day. Tickets for students, youth 12 and under, seniors, members of the military and first responders are available for $10 per day. A two-day ticket is available for $30 for general admission or $20 for students, youth 12 and under, seniors, members of the military and first responders. Tickets can be purchased at online via GNACSports.com.