Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

In both the temperature and in events, records were ready to broken at the GNAC Track & Field Championships. On Friday, May 10, ten schools came together to be deemed champions, competing in 87-degree-weather. Western, Alaska Anchorage, Central Washington, Concordia University, Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene, Saint Martin’s, Seattle Pacific, Simon Fraser and Western Washington all found themselves ready to race at McArthur Field.

In the first day, and at the peak of the heat, the events began at 2 p.m. But rather than letting the temperature bring the athletes down, it seemed to do the opposite. Several Wolves earned personal bests, and by the end of the day, Western found themselves qualifying eight individuals to advance to finals the next day: Codi Blodgett, Gabe Arce-Torres, Curt Knott, Max Carmona, Adam Alnazer and Ana Popchock. On top of this, Moana Gianotti earned All-GNAC honors by achieving 3rd in Women’s Discus. 

On May 11, the temperatures took a slight dip — slight, being five degrees — but the energy was still as high as it was the day before. The athletes came ready to set records. Another full day was ahead of them, and the ones competing continued to smash their personal-bests. With fans from all teams cheering from the stands and the sidelines, each race and field-event was nothing short of a show.

When the events came to a close later that night, four All-GNAC honors had been earned by Western. Darian Wilson earned 2nd for Women’s Javelin — for the second time in her career; Moana Gianotti earned 3rd for Women’s Discus; Grayson Burke, Bethanie Altamirano, Olivia Woods and Michaela Yonkman earned 3rd for Women’s 1600 Relay; and Gabe Arce-Torres, Lashaun Emile, Max Carmona and Curt Knott earned 3rd for Men’s 1600 Relay.

Western’s season will come to a close in Kingsville, Texas from May 23-25, as the Wolves head to the NCAA Division II National Championships.

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[fruitful_tab title=”Day One Results”]

Men’s

100: 4. Codi Blodgett, 10.87. 200: 17. Codi Blodgett, 22.92. 400: 4.Gabe Arce-Torres, 48.93. 800: 4. Curt Knott, 1:53.99; 5. Max Carmona, 1:54.09; 8. Adam Alnazer, 1:54.70; 9. Trey Reed, 1:54.87; 10. Justin Crosswhite, 1:55.06; 12. Neal Cranston, 1:55.50; 17. Zach Kanelis, 2:00.61. 10,000: 16. Sawyer Heckard, 34:11.04. Steeple: 9. Hunter Mosman, 9:43.41; 18. Simon Walsh, 10:22.37. Shot: 10. Sam Cole, 48-6 3/4 (14.80m); 11. Chris Steffey, 47-5 (14.45m); 12. Owen Collins, 47-0 1/4 (14.33m); 14. Karsten Collins, 46-2 1/2 (14.08m).Discus:8. Karsten Collins, 148-4 (45.21m); 9. Chris Steffey, 146-7 (44.68m); 12. Owen Collins, 138-3 (42.13m).

Women’s

100: 17. Logan Jackson, 12.78; 19. Hailey Sears, 12.85. 200: 16. Hailey Sears, 26.13; 18. Taryn Wilson, 26.22; 20. Logan Jackson, 26.37. 400: 11. Bethanie Altamirano, 58.94. 800: 2. Olivia Woods, 2:10.49; 16. Shayla Soloman, 2:24.31. 10,000: 9. Cassie McKinnie, 41:27.30. 100 Hurdles: 10. Ana Popchock, 15.44; 12. Natalie Legras, 15.59; 15. Michaela Yonkman, 16.07. 400 Hurdles: 8. Ana Popchock, 1:04.90; 9. Grayson Burke, 1:04.90; 11. Michaela Yonkman, 1:06.78; 11. Michaela Yonkman, 1:06.78; 12. Nicole Niskanen, 1:05.83; 14. Sarra Soladey, 1:07.90. Long Jump: 18. Lauren Berry, 16-2 1/4 (4.93m). Shot: 4. Moana Gianotti, 41-4 1/2 (12.61m). Discus: 3. Moana Gianotti, 136-1 (41.48m). [/fruitful_tab]
[fruitful_tab title=”Day Two Results”]

Men’s

100: 5. Codi Blodgett, 11.24. 400: 5. Gabe Arce-Torres, 48.97. 800: 4. Curt Knott, 1:55.35; 5. Adam Alnazer, 1:55.37; 6. Max Carmona, 1:55.52; 9. Trey Reed, 1:57.03. 1,500: 4. Justin Crosswhite,3:56.79; 7. Parker Marson, 3:57.79; 13. Hunter Mosman, 4:03.99; 14. Stephen Fey, 4:08.84. 5,000: 6. Tyler Jones, 15:07.35; 11. Parker Marson, 1516.92. Hammer: 7. Mont Child, 167-11 (51.19m); 8. Sam Cole, 165-10 (50.56m). Javelin: 12. Austin Goldstein, 173-9 (52.97m); 16. Kyle Wells, 165-9 (50.52m); 18. Mitchell Kruse, 154-6 (47.10m). 1,600 Relay: 3. Western Oregon, 3:17.87.

Women’s

800: 5. Olivia Woods, 2:12.62. 5,000: 7. Grace Knapp, 17:29.49; 13. Kaylin Cantu, 18:17.83. 400 Hurdles: 5. Ana Popchock, 1:03.69. Hammer: 6. Moana Gianotti, 138-9 (42.30m). Javelin: 2. Darian Wilson, 151-4 (46.13m). 400 Relay: 6. Western Oregon, 49.07.

1,600 Relay: 3. Western Oregon, 3:50.93.

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Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Photo by Caity Healy