Track & Field | 2/16/2018 6:24:00 PM

>>> Complete Results / Live Results
>>> GNAC Championship Preview
>>> GNAC Championship Program
 
NAMPA, Idaho—Backing up her GNAC-leading time in the 5,000-meter run, Western Oregon's Kennedy Rufener took home the conference title in the event by more than seven seconds with a time of 17:18.64 to highlight the first day of action at the GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday.
 
Rufener recently set the school record and is provisionally qualified for the NCAA DII National Championships with a with a 16:53.96. With the win, Rufener becomes the first WOU woman to claim an individual title at the GNAC Indoor Championships in an event over 200 meters.
 
Alexa Shindruk took second with a 17:26.33 while Alaska Anchorage's Emmanuelah Chelimo placed third with a 17:34.13.
 
Closing out the events on the track, the WOU men's distance medley relay team placed second overall with a time 10:13.68 to score eight points in the standings. The Wolves were edged by Simon Fraser's 10:08.40 while Central Washington was a distant third at 10:22.89.  The women's distance medley matched the result with a runner-up finish of their own by completing the segments in 11:52.14. Simon Fraser won the event handily with a 11:37.88 while the Wolves beat Alaska Anchorage to the line by a stride as the Seawolves were clocked in 11:52.56
 
Scoring five points in the long jump, Alani Troutman placed fourth overall with a mark of 22-7 3/4 (6.90m). Troutman matched his ranking entering the meet and nearly matches his season-best distance with the landing.
 
With four runners successfully navigating the prelims in the men's 800, the Wolves will carry half of the field into Saturday's event. David Ribich cruised to victory in the opening heat with a 1:54.35 while Neal Cranston made it a 1-2 WOU finish after crossing the line in 1:56.01. Curt Knott and Thomas Normandeau went 3-4 in the second section but advanced via times as Knott finished with a 1:55.43 to Normandeau's 1:55.46.
 
Cranston and Knott and Normandeau both posted indoor career bests in the race. Western Washington's Kyler Sager topped the field in the second section with a 1:54.63.
 
In the women's 800, both Olivia Woods and Megan Rose placed second in their heats to stamp places in Saturday's finale. Woods covered the track in an indoor career best time of 2:09.10 while Rose's 2:13.59 fell just shy of her all-time indoor mark of 2:13.18.
 
Aaron Whitaker safely moved on to finals in the men's 400-meter dash with a season-best time of 49.33. Whitaker was entered in the meet with the No. 6 time at 49.67 but owns an indoor career best of 48.53. Running mate AJ Holmberg placed 10th overall with a 50.33.

Winning her heat, Grayson Burke posted a career best in the women's 400 to squeak into the finals on Saturday. Burke turned in a 58.23 for the eighth and final qualifier, edging Seattle Pacific's Grace Bley by .02 for the final spot. The time also places Burke at No. 4 on WOU's all-time indoor performance list in the event. Cutting more than a half of a second off her season best, Nicole Niskanen placed 19th overall in the 400 with a 1:01.74.
 
In the short sprints, Devon Fortier narrowly missed out on advancement by taking ninth in the 60-meter dash. Fortier dipped under his career best with a 7.06 but was edged out for the eighth and final qualifier on a photo finish, 7.056 to 7.057. Fellow sprinters Cody Warner and Codi Blodgett took 10th and 12th place, respectively, with times of 7.07 and 7.10.
 
In the 200, both Fortier and Blodgett outperformed their pre-race seeding. Fortier clocked a career-best 22.21 to place 10th overall, just .02 off the final qualifier. The time also moves Fortier into No. 9 on WOU's al-time indoor performance list. Blodgett placed 17th overall after a No. 21 ranking to start the day.
 
In the men's weight throw, Nick Sieber placed 14th with a47-5 (14.45m) while Logan Barker took 17th with a 43-4 1/4 (13.21m).

2018 GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships
Jacksons Indoor
Nampa, Idaho
Feb. 16-17

Women's Finals:
5,000: 1. Kennedy Rufener, 17:18.64; 16. Cassie McKinney, 19:11.43.
Long Jump: Darien Wilson
Weight Throw: 6. Mariah Gronbach, 52-4 1/2 (15.96m); 15. Sylvia Dean, 46-1 1/4 (14.05m); 19. Alecia Falck, 44-3 1/2 (13.50m); 21. Halie Korff, 43-0 1/2 (13.12m); 25. Moana Gianotti, 39-9 3/4 (12.13m).
Distance Medley: 2. Western Oregon, 10:13.68.
 
Men's Finals
Long Jump: 4. Alani Troutman, 22-7 3/4 (6.90m); 17. Jalon Fields, 20-9 (6.32m)
Weight Throw: 14. Nick Sieber, 47-5 (14.45m); 17. Logan Barker, 43-4 1/4 (13.21m)
Distance Medley: 2. Western Oregon, 11:48.58.
 
Advancing to Saturday's Finals
W-400: 8. Grayson Burke, 58.23.
M-400: 4. Aaron Whitaker, 49.33
M-800: 1. David Ribich, 1:54.35; 4. Curt Knott, 1:55.43; 5. Thomas Normandeau, 1:55.46; 6. Neal Cranston, 1:56.01.
W-800: 2. Olivia Woods, 2:09.10; 6. Megan Rose, 2:13.59.

WOU Women's Results
60 Hurdles (semis): 15. Michaela Yonkman, 9.75; 16. Sara Madden, 9.86. 400 (semis): 8. Grayson Burke, 58.23; 17. Sara Madden, 1:01.41; 19. Nicole Niskanen, 1:01.74; 21. Rachel Bayly, 1:04.74. 800 (semis): 2. Olivia Woods, 2:09.10; 6. Megan Rose, 2:13.59. 5,000: 1. Kennedy Rufener, 17:18.64; 16. Cassie McKinney, 19:11.43. Weight Throw: 6. Mariah Gronbach, 52-4 1/2 (15.96m); 15. Sylvia Dean, 46-1 1/4 (14.05m); 19. Alecia Falck, 44-3 1/2 (13.50m); 21. Halie Korff, 43-0 1/2 (13.12m); 25. Moana Gianotti, 39-9 3/4 (12.13m). Distance Medley: 2. Western Oregon, 11:52.14.
 
WOU Men's Results
60 (semis): 9. Devon Fortier, 7.06; 10. Cody Warner, 7.07; 12. Codi Blodgett, 7.10. 200 (semis): 10. Devon Fortier, 22.21; 17. Codi Blodgett, 22.45. 400 (semis): 4. Aaron Whitaker, 49.22; 10. AJ Holmberg, 50.33. 800 (Semis): 1. David Ribich, 1:54.35; 4. Curt Knott, 1:55.43; 5. Thomas Normandeau, 1:55.46; 6. Neal Cranston, 1:56.01; 17. Dominick Marshall, 2:00.95. 60 Hurdles (semis): 15. Jackson Stallard, 9.16. Long Jump: 4. Alani Troutman, 22-7 3/4 (6.90m); 17. Jalon Fields, 20-9 (6.32m). Weight Throw: 14. Nick Sieber, 47-5 (14.45m); 17. Logan Barker, 43-4 1/4 (13.21m). Heptathlon: 8. Mitchell Kruse, 2,058 (7.81, 18-3 1/4 [5.57m]; 29-11 1/2 [9.13m]; 5-5 1/4 [1.66m). Distance Medley: 2. Western Oregon, 10:13.68.

 

WOU COMPETITION LIST
FRIDAY RUNNING EVENTS
Time	Event	Place / Name / Mark	Seed	Mark
2:30	M-60 Hurdles (Semis)	15. Jackson Stallard, 9.16	15	9.17
2:45	W-60 Hurdles (Semis)	15. Michaela Yonkman, 9.75	16	NT
		16. Sara Madden, 9.86	17	NT
3:05	M-60 (Semis)	9. Devon Fortier, 7.06	10	7.09
		12. Codi Blodgett, 7.10	14	7.17
		10. Cody Warner, 7.07	18	NT
3:35	M-400 (Semis)	4. Aaron Whitaker, 49.22	6	49.67
		10. AJ Holmberg, 50.33	18	NT
4:05	W-400 (Semis)	8. Grayson Burke, 58.23	7	58.56
		19. Nicole Niskanen, 1:01.74	19	1:02.41
		17. Sara Madden, 1:01.41	21	NT
		21. Rachel Bayly, 1:04.74	22	NT
4:35	M-800 (Semis)	6. Neal Cranston, 1:56.01	6	1:56.30
		4. Curt Knott, 1:55.43	8	1:57.12
		5. Thomas Normandeau, 1:55.46	9	1:57.40
		17. Dominick Marshall, 2:00.95	12	1:59.09
		1. David Ribich, 1:54.35	17	NT
4:50	W-800 (Semis)	2. Olivia Woods, 2:09.10	3	2:10.62
		6. Megan Rose, 2:13.59	4	2:12.37
5:05	M-200 (Semis)	10. Devon Fortier, 22.21	18	23.07
		17. Codi Blodgett, 22.45	21	23.43
6:30	W-5,000	1. Kennedy Rufener, 17:18.64	1	16:63.96
		16. Cassie McKinney, 19:11.43	21	NT
6:55	M-Distance Medley	2. Western Oregon, 10:13.68	1	9:47.56
7:15	W-Distance Medley	2. Western Oregon, 11:52.14	3	11:48.58
FRIDAY FIELD EVENTS
Time	Event	Name	Seed	Mark
9:00	M-Heptathlon	8. Mitchell Kruse, 2,058	8	NM
2:45	M-Weight Throw	14. Nick Sieber, 47-5 (14.45m)	12	15.45m
		17. Logan Barker, 43-4 1/4 (13.21m)	19	14.15m
4:00	M-Long Jump	4. Alani Troutman, 22-7 3/4 (6.90m)	4	6.94m
		10. Jalon Fields, 20-9 (6.32m)	20	NM
5:30	W-Long Jump	Darien Wilson	16	5.06m
5:30	W-Weight Throw	6. Mariah Gronbach, 52-4 1/2 (15.96m)	7	15.16m
		15. Sylvia Dean, 46-1 1/4 (14.05m)	11	14.61m
		19. Alecia Falck 44-3 1/2 (13.50m)
		21. Halie Korff 43-0 1/2 (13.12m)	23	12.46m
		25. Moana Gianotti 39-9 3/4 (12.13m)
SATURDAY RUNNING EVENTS
Time	Event	Name	Seed	Mark
11:25	M-Mile	David Ribich	1	3:58.88
		Dustin Nading	2	4:04.50
		Justin Crosswhite	4	4:15.02
		Parker Marson	5	4:16.48
		Stephen Fey	7	4:19.70
11:45	W-Mile	Suzanne Van De Grift	1	4:48.95
		Nicole Maurmann	6	5:04.40
		Isabelle Tingelstad	17	5:38.68
12:25	M-400	Aaron Whitaker	4	49.22
12:35	W-400	Grayson Burke	8	58.23
1:05	M-800	David Ribich	1	1:54.35
		Curt Knott	4	1:55.43
		Thomas Normandeau	5	1:55.46
		Neal Cranston	6	1:56.01
1:20	W-800	Olivia Woods	2	2:09.10
		Megan Rose	6	2:13.59
1:55	M-3,000	Dustin Nading	1	8:10.82
		Tyler Jones	4	8:21.20
2:35	W-3,000	Kennedy Rufener	3	9:56.05
		Nicole Maurmann	10	10:06.60
		Cassie McKinney	26	NT
3:15	M-1,600 Relay	Western Oregon	5	3:23.31
3:30	W-1,600 Relay	Western Oregon	2	3:51.84
SATURDAY FIELD EVENTS
Time	Event	Name	Seed	Mark
9:30	M-Heptathlon	Mitchell Kruse	8	NM
10:00	M-Shot Put	Brandon Bowen	10	14.87m
		Nick Sieber	16	14.40m
		Mont Child	19	13.26m
		Logan Barker	20	12.96m
10:15	M-High Jump	Kolton Koenig-Rohde	11	1.80m
		Alani Troutman	12	1.75m
11:15	M-Triple Jump	Jalon Fields	5	13.29m
		Kolton Koenig-Rohde	9	12.50m
		Jack Grundmeyer	11	12.00m
12:30	W-Shot Put	Moana Gianotti	13	11.67m
		Mariah Gronbach	20	10.10m

 
2017 MEN'S TEAM SCORES: 1. Alaska Anchorage, 154; 2. Western Oregon, 82; 3. Northwest Nazarene 78; 4. Simon Fraser, 77; 5. Concordia, 66.5; 6. Central Washington, 65; 7. Western Washington, 64; 8. Saint Martin's, 36; 9. MSU Billings, 29.5; 10. Seattle, Pacific, 11.
 
2017 WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES: 1. Seattle Pacific, 124; 2. Simon Fraser, 121.5; 3. Alaska Anchorage, 113; 4. Central Washington, 83; 5. Concordia, 60; 6. Western Washington, 51.5; 7. Northwest Nazarene, 41; 8. Saint Martin's 35; 9. Western Oregon, 25; 10. MSU Billings, 8.