By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program is off to a great start at the 2024 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships held at the CWU Recreation Complex.
Through the first day of competition on Friday the Vikings hold commanding leads in both the men's and women's team standings. WWU is looking aiming repeat as team champions after sweeping the titles last year and secure a perfect 6-for-6 GNAC Championships sweep in 2023-24 in cross country, indoor and outdoor.
The men's team has 96 points with 7 of 21 events scored and the women's team has 101 points through the first eight events.
Here is a look at the team standings at the GNAC Championships through Friday's competition:
|
Men's Team Scores
|
|
Women's Team Scores
|
|
PL
|
Team
|
Pts
|
PL
|
Team
|
Pts
|
|
1.
|
Western Washington
|
96.0
|
1.
|
Western Washington
|
101.0
|
|
2.
|
Central Washington
|
49.0
|
2.
|
Western Oregon
|
55.0
|
|
3.
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
31.0
|
3.
|
Central Washington
|
46.0
|
|
4.
|
Western Oregon
|
26.0
|
4.
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
41.0
|
|
5.
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
21.0
|
5.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
31.0
|
|
6.
|
Simon Fraser
|
19.5
|
6.
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
17.0
|
|
7.
|
Saint Martin's
|
15.0
|
7.
|
MSU Billings
|
14.0
|
|
8.
|
MSU Billings
|
12.5
|
8.
|
Simon Fraser
|
6.0
|
|
9.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
2.0
|
9.
|
Saint Martin's
|
1.0
|
The Western men are looking to add a fifth consecutive GNAC outdoor team title and 11th overall, while the women are looking to claim their second GNAC title after winning the first in program history in 2023.
WWU's first day of competition at the GNAC Outdoor Championships was highlighted by school records set by Jeret Gillingham in the 3000m Steeplechase, Katie Potts in the shot put and Caitlyn Cheney equaling her school record in the 100m. Gillingham became a three-time winner in the event while setting the all-time GNAC record clocking a time of 8:45.40. Potts smashed her own record in the shot put with a throw of 14.14m/46-4.75. Running in her hometown, Cheney equaled her program-best time of 11.91 in the prelims.
In addition to the trio of school records, the Vikings made 16 entries in the all-time program top 10 record book, had five event winners and had 15 All-GNAC award winners.
WWU team lead was fueled by 63 total points in the steeplechase, with the women sweeping the top five spots and the men the top four spots. Ila Davis became a three-time winner of the Steeplechase to join Gillingham with three gold medals in the event at the GNAC Championships.
Meaera Nystrom repeated as the 10,000m champion to conclude the women's events for the day.
Here is a look at the Vikings that earned All-GNAC honors by placing in the top three in events on Friday:
In addition to the All-GNAC performers from finals, WWU also positioned itself well with 21 qualifiers for Saturday's finals. Among those to qualify included top finishes by Lucas Brenek in the 400m (48.05), Kennedy Cook in the 400m (55.99), Drew Weber in the 800m (1:51.09) and Marian Ledesma in the 800m (2:11.48).
The final day of the 2024 GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships begins with field events at 10 am and running events at 2:45 pm. Follow all the action via live results at GNAC.live.
