SPOKANE, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program is off to a strong start at the 20th edition of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Championships.

 

Both the Viking men and women hold the team lead in points through the first day of competition at The Podium, with the Western men totaling 54 points through the first five (of 17 events) and the women with 50 points through the first six events.

 

WWU's strong distance crew highlighted Monday's performances, with junior Kevin McDermott and sophomore Ashley Reeck sweeping the 5000m titles. McDermott won his second GNAC indoor title in the event (also in 2022) continuing his solid season that also resulted in winning the individual title at the cross country championships. Reeck won her fifth All-GNAC award in just her second collegiate season.

 

The Viking men totaled 18 points in the 5000m with junior Ryan Clough (4th, 14:47.57) and freshman Sten Brakstad (6th, 14:55.75) also placing in the top eight. Western's women were even better in the longest race of the day totaling 20 points with sophomore Meaera Nystrom placing 3rd for All-GNAC honors finishing in 17:36.32 after winning the event last season and junior Emma Smith (6th, 18:00.95) and freshman Ella Edens (8th, 18:20.82) also earning points.

 

The women's DMR team of Mia Crocker, Marian Ledesma, Evelyn Collins-Winn and Ila Davis took home the gold medal in a time of 11:50.82 to rank 4th in program history establishing a top 20 time in NCAA II this season.

 

Freshman Troy Roberson won the men's long jump recording a long PR in his final leap to take the gold medal with a mark of 7.10m/23-3.5 for the No. 5 mark in program history. Roberson continues a strong performance by the Vikings in the event at the indoor championships with a WWU win in four of the last five championships.

 

The men's throwers landed 11 points in the weight throw with sophomore Angelo Ramos taking home a bronze medal with a throw of 16.75m/54-11.5 and junior Miller Campbell taking 4th (15.68m/54-1).

 

WWU also had a number of runners qualify for the Tuesday finals in several events, including Hunter Flick and Jaden Edwards in the men's 60m Hurdles, Brian Greenwalt and Brian Le in the men's 60m dash, Caitlyn Cheney and Anabelle Heiman in the women's 60m dash, Nolan Mickenham in the men's 200m, Hannah Polkinghorn in the women's 200m, Maurice Woodring, Brian Le and Lucas Brenek in the men's 400m, Caitlyn Cheney in the women's 400m, Jonah Bloom and Cole Riley in the men's 800m and Marian Ledesma, Sophie Wright and Emmy Kroontje in the women's 800m.

 

Cheney equaled her personal-best and school-record time of 7.71 seconds in the 60m dash and Heiman ran the second-fastest time in WWU history clocking 7.73 seconds.

 

The final day of the 2024 GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships begins with the men's heptathlon at 8:30 am, field events at 9:30 am and the first running event at 11 am. More information on the championship can be found online at GNACSports.com.

 

Here is a look at the GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships team scoring through the first day of competition, with six of 17 women's events completed and 5 of 17 men's events:

 

 

Here is the listing of WWU student-athletes that earned All-GNAC honors for top-3 individual finishes or by being part of a winning relay team:

 

WWU Women – All-GNAC Award Winners:

• Ashley Reeck (5000m, 1st Place)
• Ila Davis (DMR, 1st Place)
• Evelyn Collins-Winn (DMR, 1st Place)
• Marian Ledesma (DMR, 1st Place)
• Mia Crocker (DMR, 1st Place)
• Meaera Nystrom (5000m, 3rd Place)
• Kora Cook (High Jump, 3rd Place)
• Katie Potts (Weight Throw, 3rd Place)

 

WWU Men – All-GNAC Award Winners:

• Kevin McDermott (5000m, 1st Place)
• Troy Roberson (Long Jump, 1st Place)
• Angelo Ramos (Weight Throw, 3rd Place)

 

Here are interviews from the GNAC of WWU's gold medal winners:

 

• Ashley Reeck
• Kevin McDermott
• Women's DMR
• Troy Roberson

 

Below are links on how to follow the Vikings at the GNAC Indoor Championships. The complete 2024 WWU Track & Field schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/TF, with links to season results, meet recaps and national rankings:

 

2024 GNAC Indoor Championships

• Date: Feb. 19-20 (Monday-Tuesday)
• Location: Spokane, WA
• Venue: The Podium
• GNAC Championships Preview
• Live Results
• Championship Information
• Webcast via RunnerSpace ($) 
• Meet Schedule
• Tickets

 

Here is a breakdown of results for WWU competitors from Monday's competition at the GNAC Championships with points earned by the Vikings listed for all final events:

 

Men's Results:

60m Dash (Prelims): Ryan Greenwalt (Q, 4th, 6.88), Brian Le (Q, 7th, 6.98)

60m Hurdles (Prelims): Hunter Flick (Q, 1st, 8.19), Jaden Edwards (Q, 4th, 8.50)

200m (Prelims): Nolan Mickenham (Q, 4th, 21.90)

400m (Prelims): Maurice Woodring (Q, 3rd, 49.50), Brian Le (Q, 4th, 49.82), Lucas Brenek (Q, 6th, 50.63)

800m (Prelims): Jonah Bloom (Q, 3rd, 1:55.52), Cole Riley (Q, 8th, 1:54.57), Ian Eifert (9th, 1:56.34)

5000m (18 Pts): Kevin McDermott (1st, 14:30.28), Ryan Clough (4th, 14:47.57), Sten Brakstad (6th, 14:55.75)

DMR (8 Pts): Lingwall-Windrope-Eifert-Rutledge (2nd, 10:13.70)

Long Jump (14 Pts): Troy Roberson (1st, 7.10m/23-3.5), Ryan Greenwalt (5th, 6.74m/22-1.5)

Weight Throw (11 Pts): Angelo Ramos (3rd, 16.75m/54-11.5), Miller Campbell (4th, 16.48m/54-1)

Pole Vault (3 Pts): Austin Seals (6th, 4.03m/13-2.5)

 

Women's Results:

60m Dash (Prelims): Caitlyn Cheney (Q, 3rd, 7.71), Anabelle Heiman (Q, 4th, 7.73)

60m Hurdles (Prelims): Naomi Bates (9th, 9.22), Brooke Mansfield (12th, 9.29), Isabella Porter (13th, 9.41)

200m (Prelims): Hannah Polkinghorn (Q, 8th, 25.84)

400m (Prelims): Caitlyn Cheney (Q, 4th, 57.99), Kennedy Cook (13th, 59.20), Anabelle Heiman (16th, 59.39)

800m (Prelims): Marian Ledesma (Q, 1st, 2:13.26), Sophie Wright (Q, 4th, 2:14.36), Emmy Kroontje (Q, 6th, 2:15.67), Elie Bassett (9th, 2:17.93)

5000m (20 Pts): Ashley Reeck (1st, 17:30.87), Meaera Nystrom (3rd, 17:36.32), Emma Smith (6th, 18:00.95), Ella Edens (8th, 18:20.82), Laura Halsell (10th, 18:28.04)

DMR (10 Pts): Crocker-Ledesma-Collins-Winn, Davis (1st, 11:50.82)

Long Jump (5 Pts): Kora Cook (6th, 5.32m/17-5.5), Hannah Polkinghorn (6th, 5.29m/17-4.25)

High Jump (6 Pts): Kora Cook (3rd, 1.62m/5-3.75)

Weight Throw (9 Pts): Katie Potts (3rd, 15.83m/51-11.25), Mara Parks (6th, 15.08m/49-5.75)

Pentathlon: Karma Walker (10th, 2615)

 

Here is a look at WWU's finishes in the 19 GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships since the first meet in 2004. The WWU men have won seven indoor titles and placed in the top three in all but two of the GNAC indoor championships, while the women have seven top three finishes and six runner-up honors:

 

 

Here is a listing of the WWU Indoor Track & Field schedule this season with a direct link to the results. WWU is scheduled to compete in one more regular-season meet February 23-24 at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational at Dempsey Indoor in Seattle.

 

 

This marks the third consecutive season The Podium will host the GNAC Track & Field Indoor Championships in Spokane. The Podium continues the region's long-standing history with the sport of running. The venue features a state-of-the-art, 200-meter six-lane hydraulic banked track with a Beynon rubberized surface and fixed seating for 3,000 athletes and fans. The track is one of the few 200-meter hydraulic banked tracks in the U.S. and is the first in the western U.S. In its first year of operation, The Podium hosted the GNAC Indoor Championships, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships and the USA Track and Field National Indoor Championships. In addition to the hydraulic track, The Podium boasts two throwing cages, two horizontal jump pits, high jump and pole vault pits and an eight-lane 60-meter sprint straightaway on the infield. The venue will be outfitted with Gill equipment. The facility also includes a temperature-controlled warm-up track on the lower level, a spectator level with concessions, and an entire floor dedicated to media, press and timing. Read More About The Podium.