GNAC Indoor
Results Day 2
NAMPA, Idaho. – The Montana State University Billings Track and Field Teams have completed their 2014 GNAC Indoor Championships at the Jacksons Track at the Ford Idaho Center.
Western Washington University won the competition on the Men's side with a score of 157 points. Alex Donigian of Western Washington was named the GNAC's Male Outstanding perfomer. Donigian swept the 60 meters and 200 meters for the second year in a row in meet-record times of 6.75 and 21.79, respectively. His 60 time is also an all-time GNAC record.
Alaska Anchorage University came back from a third-place finish yesterday, to take the team title today with a total of 154 points. Karolina Anders from UAA was named the GNAC's Female Outstanding performer. Anders was the meet's top point producer winning both the pentathlon Friday with a meet-record score of 3,640 points and the triple jump Saturday (36-10 ½). She also finished second in the high jump (5-3 ¾), third in the long jump (18-0 ½) and eighth in the shot put (38-4 ¾).
Both schools are repeat champions from last year. This is the fourth title for WWU, and the second for UAA.
Montana State University Billings' Track and Field Teams have completed their 2014 indoor season, and both teams set new records on Day 2 of the 11
th Annual Championships.
The Men's Team was paced by
Robert Peterson who won the Men's mile and set a new MSU Billings record. With his time of 4:11.05, Peterson stole the show in the event by setting a new GNAC meet record and by shattering the previous MSUB record in the mile held by
Tyson Vanderby (2013) of 4:18.39. With his first-place finish he also becomes an All-Conference Selection.
"Robert just had a fantastic weekend on the track," Head Coach
Dave Coppock said. "He accounted for 20 points, six from the relays and 14 individual points. He ran really two good miles. His split in the Men's DMR yesterday was 4:13. He took us from almost last place to third on the last leg. The next day, we weren't sure if he would hold up for the mile final – but he had a tremendous last lap, he passed the GNAC leader in the event. It was a really exciting event – and it is his 21st birthday!"
Peterson is a twice All-Conference selection with the Men's DMR taking third yesterday, and his first place finish in the Men's Mile today. He also celebrated his 21
st birthday today at the Track.
"Yesterday, I felt really relaxed going into the Men's DMR," Peterson said. "I had a really good leg in that race. I didn't know if I could go faster today, but on the last lap in today's mile, I was behind 20-25 meters on the last lap, I saw that and just let go and sprinted the final distance. I think the last lap was around 28 seconds, which turned out to be a great split.
"You know Robert really ran two great mile races," Coach Coppock said. "Then, when those were done, he was entered in the 3,000 meters and he wasn't sure if he felt he could run it. But after the first mile, he just got it into his head to hang in there, and he ended up fifth, right behind
Chase Robinson. Altogether he just had an outstanding weekend."
"The 3,000 is kinda blurry," Peterson said. "I felt tired, but I wanted to help support my teammates. I wanted to add more points for MSUB. In the relay yesterday I felt good. It was a good hand-off. I saw our team was behind, so I just ran. So today, I was running to support the team again. Yesterday was great when we got third and All-conference. And then today was another good day, both in the mile and then when I was able to put up some more points in the 3,000."
So how did Peterson celebrate his birthday at the track?
"Well, it was a great birthday," Peterson stated. "Right now, I am just going home, but my family will probably do something for me tomorrow. Mostly I am really excited for the team and for the future. Everyone is coming along really great. We have some great competitors right now, and I am really excited to see what everyone can do. "
Peterson collected the most points for the team over the weekend. He collected 10 points for his first place finish in the mile, four points for his fifth place finish in the Men's 3,000 (8:43.87) , and he was part of the Men's DMR team that contributed six points with their third place finish yesterday.
In front of Peterson in the 3,000 meters was
Chase Robinson who finished with a time of 8:42.86, just missing out on third.
Also becoming an All-Conference winner was
Dylan Buehler, who finished third in the Men's Weight Throw with a distance of 15.6 meters. Anthony Montanez finished close behind him in fifth place with a throw of 15.32 meters.
In his first GNAC meet,
Cameron Stanek finished seventh in the heptathlon with 3,969 points. For his efforts, Stanek set a new MSU Billings record besting the record set by
Brock Steingruber (2011) of 3,832 points. Stanek finished his competition today with the 60 meter hurdles and the pole vault.
"Cameron has done a great job in the heptathlon," Coach Coppock said. "I think he had personal bests in just about every event today which was really great to see. This is his first year of competition for us in track and field. He also plays soccer for MSUB, but he has just really improved as a track and field athlete for the team. It was really exciting to see him do so well."
After making the finals yesterday in the Men's 800 meters,
Drew Galahan finished sixth today with a time of 1:56.51 to contribute points for MSU Billings.
The Men's 4x400 meter relay team of
Lewis Polkow,
Cale Howells,
Drew Galahan, and Nate Vanderby finished fifth with a time of 3:25.42.
On the Women's side today, the 4x400 meter relay team of
Kaytlin Halle,
Renae Hepfner,
Nocona Frame, and
Ashlynn VanVoast added a point to the MSUB total.
Nocona Frame set a new MSU Billings Indoor record in the Women's Mile with a time of 5:15.36, surpassing
Whitney Mickelsen's time of 5:17.16 (2010) and just missing out on scoring some points for MSUB.
Her sister
Rio Frame set a new MSUB record in the Women's 3,000 meters with a time of 10:39.07, surpassing her own record from earlier in the season of 10:41.52.
"For the Men, 49 points on the men's side is the most points MSUB has every put up," Coach Coppock said. "They really had a great weekend. I am a little disappointed with the women's side. We just don't have the depth right now. We are really hurting in the sprints and jumps. We need to step that up all-around. We are light in numbers right now, we have some injuries and such, so we will need to get healthy in order to prepare for this season's Outdoor meets."
The MSU Billings Outdoor Track and Field Season begins with the Al Manuel Invitational on the campus of the University of Montana on Friday, Mar. 28 in Missoula, Mont.
2014 GNAC Indoor Championships, Final Team Scores
Men's Teams
1 Western Washington 157
2 Alaska Anchorage 134
3 Northwest Nazarene 83.66
4 Central Washington 73
5 Western Oregon 66.33
6 MSU-Billings 49
7 Simon Fraser 44
8 Saint Martin's 43
9 Seattle Pacific 10
Women's Teams
1 Alaska Anchorage 154
2 Seattle Pacific 125
3 Northwest Nazarene 116.33
4 Western Washington 100.33
5 Simon Fraser 57
6 Central Washington 47.33
7 Western Oregon 46
8 Saint Martin's 9
9 MSU-Billings 8
Montana State University Billings, Results, Day 2
Men's 800 Meters, Final
1 Hanna, Josh Western Oregon 1:54.14 10
6 Galahan, Drew MSU-Billings 1:56.51 3
Men's 1 Mile Run
1 Peterson, Robert MSU-Billings 4:11.05 10
Men's 3000 Meters
1 Chelimo, Micah Alaska Anchorage 8:28.35 10
4 Robinson, Chase MSU-Billings 8:42.86 5
5 Peterson, Robert MSU-Billings 8:43.87 4
Men's 4 x 400m Relay
1 1 A Alaska Anchorage 3:16.09 10
5 5 A MSU-Billings* 3:25.42 4
* Polkow, Howells, Galahan, Vanderby
Men's Weight Throw
1 Stanley, Kevin Central Washington 17.71m 10
3 Buehler, Dylan MSU-Billings 15.60m 6
5 Montanez, Anthony MSU-Billings 15.32m 4
Men's Indoor Heptathlon
1 Thomas, Cody Alaska Anchorage 4904 10
7 Stanek, Cameron MSU-Billings 3969 2
Women's 4 x 400m Relay
1 1 A Seattle Pacific 3:51.94 10
8 3 A MSU-Billings* 4:18.52 1
*Halle, Hepfner, N. Frame, VanVoast
