BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program added to its dynasty sweeping the 2025 GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted Friday and Saturday at Civic Stadium.

WWU extended its streak of winning the last 14 team titles across men's and women's cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field dating back to the 2023 outdoor championships. The Vikings claimed 39 total All-GNAC performances for a top three podium finish.

Western Washington's men broke the conference record for points in a championship, racking up 302.5 points across the two-day meet at their home venue scoring points in all 21 events. That topped the previous mark of 289 points, achieved by the Vikings at the 2021 GNAC Championships. The landslide victory was led by 28.5 points in pole vault, 26 in the steeplechase and 24 in the 10,000m. Second-place Western Oregon totaled 116 points and third-place Central Washington finishing with 105 points. It was the Vikings 12th men's team title and sixth in a row dating back to the 2019 outdoor campaign.

The women's team race was much closer, with WWU emerging with 229.0 points to hold off second-place Central Washington by 25 points. The Vikings scored points in 20 of 21 events, led by 26 points in the 3,000m steeplechase, 24 points in the shot put and 22 in the 400m. Western Oregon's women took third with 101 points. WWU's women picked up their third overall GNAC team title and third in a row since beginning the streak in 2023.

Beginning with a sweep of the 2023 women's and men's outdoor team titles, Western Washington has since claimed 14 consecutive team titles across the sports of cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. In 2023-24 WWU became the first GNAC school to win all six of the available titles across the three sports in a single academic year, and the Vikings repeated the feat in 2024-25 with Saturday's results. The 14 consecutive team titles are the most ever since the league was founded in 2001-02.

 

The GNAC Outdoor Championships concluded a busy slate of hosting home events during the 2024-25 season for the WWU Cross Country and Track & Field program, including the 2024 GNAC Cross Country Championships, Bill Roe XC Classic, Pee Wee Halsell Invitational, Ralph Vernacchia Invitational and the GNAC Combined Championships in Bellingham.

 

Senior Ila Davis earned the award for Women's Performance of the Meet winning her fourth consecutive 3000m Steeplechase title on Friday with a time of 10:26.43. Davis became the second woman in GNAC Outdoor Championships history to win four consecutive titles in any event, with the other being four-time discus champion Jessica Telleria of WWU (2003-06). Vanessa Aniteye of Alaska Anchorage and Seattle Pacific are the only other women to win four outdoor titles in an event, winning the 400 meters from 2017-19 and again in 2022. Davis owns a season-best time of 10:20.91 in the steeplechase to rank No. 10 in the nation, cementing a fourth consecutive trip to nationals where she looks to repeat as an All-American in her premier event.
 

 

Senior Kevin McDermott won his 10th and 11th-career GNAC titles (including cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field), topping the field in the 1500 meters (3:47.48) and setting the meet record in the 5000m (14:24.94). McDermott's has a good chance to qualify for nationals in both events with season and personal-best times ranking 14th in the 5000m (13:48.17) and 18th in the 1500m (3:44.37). Here is a look at McDermott's 11 GNAC titles:

 

• 2025 Outdoor – 1500m (3:47.38)
• 2025 Outdoor – 5000m (14:24.94)
• 2025 Indoor – 3000m (8:15.30)
• 2025 Indoor – 5000m (14:38.56)
• 2024 Outdoor – 1500m (3:51.45)
• 2024 Indoor – Mile (4:06.63)
• 2024 Indoor – 3000m (8:25.11)
• 2024 Indoor – 5000m (14:30.28)
• 2023 Cross Country – 8K (24:43.50)
• 2023 Outdoor – 5000m (14:42.03)
• 2022 Indoor – 5000m (14:52.36)

Here is a unique look at the Vikings championship winning performance hosting the 2025 GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the first time in Bellingham:

 

1 – Vikings placed 1st as a team in the men's and women's team scoring

2 – School records achieved

4 – Consecutive gold medals won by Ila Davis in the women's 3000m Steeplechase (2022-25)

11 – All-time individual titles Kevin McDermott won during his WWU career

14 – Consecutive GNAC titles won by WWU in Indoor/Outdoor Track and Cross Country

17 – All-GNAC performances by the WWU women

18 – Program top 10 marks achieved during two-day competition

22 – All-GNAC performances earned by the WWU men

41 – Vikings scored points in 41 of 42 possible events in the GNAC Outdoor Championships

52 – Points scored by WWU in men's and women's 3000m Steeplechase (26 points each)

 

Here is a look at the final GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships team standings. The WWU men won their 12th overall GNAC outdoor title raising the trophy for the sixth consecutive season scoring a meet record 302.5 points. The Viking women won their third consecutive outdoor team title.

 

 

Here is a look at the All-GNAC performers from the 2025 Outdoor Championships by placing in the top three to earn a podium spot at the conference championship:

 

Gold:

Eli Williams – Steeplechase (8:59.46), 1500m (3:50.79)

Ila Davis – Steeplechase (10:26.43)

Ryan Clough – 10,000m (30:01.82)

Austin Seals – Pole Vault (4.50m/14-9)

Noah Turner – Shot Put (16.25m/53-3.75)

Maurice Woodring – 400m Hurdles (51.47)

Kevin McDermott – 1500m (3:47.38), 5000m (14:24.94)

Gabe Menicke – Triple Jump (14.61m/47-11.25)

Bec Bennett – 400m (53.11)

Mia Crocker – 800m (2:10.62)

Jill Philbin – 1500m (4:30.76)

Katie Potts – Discus (47.34m/155-3)

Men's 4x400 Relay – Le, E. Ford, Woodring, I. Ford (3:10.00)

Women's 4x400 Relay – Cook, Heiman, Cheney, Bennett (3:41.98)

 

Silver:

Miller Campbell – Hammer Throw (54.65m/179-3)

Kathryn Chapin – Hammer Throw (53.14m/174-4)

Kora Cook – High Jump (1.70m/5-7)

Isaiah Cummings – Pole Vault (4.50m/14-9)

Maddy Grandbois – Shot Put (14.23m/46-8.25)

Hunter Flick – 110m Hurdles (14.44)

Ryan Greenwalt – 200m (21.57)

Kennedy Cook – 400m (54.34)

Sydney Mohlman – Pole Vault (3.59m/11-9.25)

Men's 4x100 Relay – Greenwalt, I. Ford, E. Ford, Mickenham (40.68)

Women's 4x100 Relay – Heiman, Cheney, Polkinghorn, Cook (46.49)

 

Bronze:

Jared Alderfer – Steeplechase (9:07.76)

Ashley Reeck – Steeplechase (10:45.08)

Andrew Oslin – 10,000m (30:17.29)

Angelo Ramos – Hammer Throw (53.73m/173-6)

Ryan Greenwalt – Long Jump (7.17m/23-6.25)

Nicole Avery – Long Jump (5.67m/18-7.25)

Aidan Klein – Pole Vault (4.50m/14-9)

Katie Potts – Shot Put (14.14m/46-4.75)

Brian Le – 400m (47.65)

Corbin Herron – 400m Hurdles (53.09)

Sten Brakstad – 5000m (14:30.87)

Jakob Braunstein – Javelin (67.58m/221-8)

Ari Nguyen – 400m Hurdles (1:02.09)

Danielle McLain – 10,000m (37:03.44)

 

The Vikings swept the team titles at the 2025 GNAC Outdoor Championships, marking the third consecutive season to win the men's and women's titles. Dating back to the 2022 calendar year, the WWU men have won 10 of 11 possible titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor, while the women have combined for eight of 11 titles. The Western track & field and cross country program has a current string of 14 consecutive team titles across men's and women's dating back to the 2023 outdoor championships.

 

 

Junior Bec Bennett broker her own school record and set the GNAC record in the 400m winning the race in 53.11. The mark is the 10th-fastest in NCAA II this season assuring a trip to nationals in Pueblo, Colorado. Bennett broke the previous GNAC record of 53.56 by Mary Pearce of Alaska Anchorage in 2007. She is the first Viking since Eleanor Siler in 2012 and the third overall to claim the outdoor crown in the women's 400 meters. Bennett also won the indoor 400m GNAC title and placed 7th at nationals to earn First Team All-America honors. Sophomore teammate Kennedy Cook placed second in 54.34 seconds to earn the silver medal in the event.

 

The Vikings got a boost in the team standings scoring 52 combined points in the 3000m Steeplechase on Friday, with both the men's and women's team scoring 26 points in the event placing 1st-3rd-4th-6th-7th. Senior Ila Davis won her fourth consecutive title in the women's steeplechase and freshman Eli Williams raced to the win in a PR time of 8:59.46 to rank 3rd in WWU history and No. 23 in NCAA II this season. A Viking has won the men's steeplechase in each of the last five championships with Williams joining Jeret Gillingham (2021, 2023, 2024) and Mac Franks (2022).

 

Sophomore Maurice Woodring won his second 400m hurdles title at the GNAC Championships, adding the 2025 crown to his 2023 victory. Woodring set the meet record with a winning time of 51.47 to topple the previous mark of 51.77 set by former Viking Cordell Cummings in 2019. Woodring's school and GNAC record PR of 51.03 set at the Bryan Clay Invitational ranks No. 8 in the nation assuring him a spot at nationals. Freshman Corbin Herron earned the bronze medal placing 3rd in 53.09.

Senior Katie Potts won her third consecutive GNAC discus title, winning Saturday's competition with a throw of 47.34m/155-3. Western's record holder in the event with a season/career best of 48.15m/158-0 is on the nationals bubble currently ranking No. 20 in the nation. The senior also won bronze in the shot put on Friday, capping her GNAC career with 11 all-time medals at conference indoor and outdoor championships and four titles. In her premier discus event, she won three gold medals and two silver medals. Here is a look at Potts' All-GNAC performances during her collegiate career:

 

• 2025 Outdoor: Discus (1st), Shot Put (3rd)
• 2024 Outdoor: Shot Put (1st), Discus (1st)
• 2024 Indoor: Shot Put (2nd), Weight Throw (3rd)
• 2023 Outdoor: Discus (1st)
• 2023 Indoor: Shot Put (2nd), Weight Throw (2nd)
• 2022 Outdoor: Discus (2nd)
• 2021 Outdoor: Discus (2nd)

• Senior Mia Crocker swept the 800m titles in 2025 winning the event at the indoor and outdoor championships, completing the double with a winning time of 2:10.62 during Saturday's final.
• Junior Gabe Menicke defended his title in the triple jump winning with a leap of 14.61m/47-11.25 becoming the fifth man in GNAC history to win back-to-back gold medals in the event.
• Sophomore Jill Philbin ran her best collegiate race winning the 1500m in 4:30.76, becoming the first Viking to win the gold medal at the outdoor championships in the event.
• Senior Ryan Clough capped his standout WWU career winning the 10,000m Friday evening in a meet record time of 30:01.82. Clough holds the WWU record in the event running 29:31.25 at the Bryan Clay Invitational in April.
• Sophomore Noah Turner earned his first outdoor gold medal in the shot put with a throw of 16.25m/53-3.75 to overcome 2024 winner Wes Kriete of CWU. Turner won the shot put title at the 2024 and 2025 GNAC Indoor Championships.
• Sophomore Austin Seals won the battle of Vikings in the pole vault competition, clearing a personal-best 4.50m/14-9 to win the gold medal. WWU swept the top three spots in the competition and earned 28.5 total points in the event with Isaiah Cummings (2nd), Aidan Klein (3rd) and Kurt Montero (T-4th) helping to dominate the competition.

 

The GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships concludes the season for a majority of the team, but a handful of Vikings are looking to make the selection for the 2025 NCAA II Outdoor Track & Field Championships held May 22-24 in Pueblo, Colorado. The NCAA will announce national selections on Tuesday (May 13) via NCAA.com, with the top 22 individuals and top 16 relays earning a spot in the championship field. The complete 2025 WWU Track & Field schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/TF.