By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Sophomore
Calvin Gutierrez and junior
Sydney Mohlman swept the GNAC Field Athlete of the Week awards for their standout performances at the Pee Wee Halsell Invitational and the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational over the weekend in Bellingham.
Gutierrez (Everett, WA/Mariner HS) broke the WWU and GNAC record in the hammer throw at the Halsell Invitational with a toss of 64.03m/210-1 on Friday. The sophomore set four consecutive PR's in his series, saving his best throw for last to win the event breaking the 23-year-old conference record. Entering the meet with a season and career-best mark of 58.92m/193-4, Gutierrez blew that mark away crushing the previous WWU record of 62.87m/206-3 by Michael Hoffman in 2011 and broke the longest standing GNAC record that was previously set by Pro Escobedo (62.89m/206-4) of Western Oregon in 2003.
Gutierrez also won the hammer throw Saturday at the Vernacchia Invitational (59.48m/195-2) and placed 3rd in the discus at the Halsell Invite (47.11m/154-7). Gutierrez is listed No. 9 on the NCAA Division II performance list this season, making him a virtual lock to compete at the national championships.
Mohlman (Mill Creek, WA/Jackson HS) earned a pair of wins in the women's pole vault over the weekend, clearing two impressive marks. She recorded a PR and the No. 7 mark in GNAC history on Friday at the Halsell Invitational clearing 3.84m/12-7.25 for the No. 7 mark in GNAC history and No. 3 in the WWU record book. She also cleared 3.82m/12-6.25 on Saturday for a mark that would have broken her previous PR entering the weekend. The junior is No. 28 on the NCAA Division II performance list this season.
The Vikings are next in action next Monday-Tuesday (May 4-5) at the GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with Western going for its fourth consecutive women's team title and sixth consecutive men's team title. The WWU track & field and cross country program has a current string of 18 consecutive team titles across men's and women's dating back to the 2023 outdoor championships.
