PORTLAND, Ore. -- Justin Crosswhite leads the way for the Western Oregon University men's track and field team on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference Team, Presented by Barnes & Noble College on Tuesday.
Crosswhite becomes a four-time recipient of the award, while also holding a perfect 4.00 GPA. Zach Kanelis and Neal Cranston land on the list for the third straight time, while Adam Alnazer, Karsten Collins, Owen Collins and Dominic Giordano are on the list for the second straight year.
Crosswhite's GPA leads the way, followed by Kanelis with a 3.89 GPA. Alnazer holds a 3.68 GPA, Giordano at 3.59 GPA, Karsten Collins at 3.43 GPA, Owen Collins at 3.42 GPA, Cranston at 3.37 GPA, Curt Knott at 3.37 GPA, Austin Goldstein at 3.34 GPA, Jarren Ford at 3.34 GPA and Marlon Harrison at 3.30 GPA round out the list for the Wolves.
Crosswhite is a senior from Hood River, Ore., and majoring in organizational leadership. It's been a strong outdoor season for Crosswhite, setting personal-best marks in both the 800 and 1,500 during the year. He set his new PR in the 800 during the Oregon Relays crossing with a time of 1:51.97. Then at the Oregon State High Performance, he set his new best in the 1,500 with a time of 3:50.61. During the GNAC Outdoor Championships, Crosswhite placed second in the 1,500. He ranks ninth in program history for his time in the 1,500 and 10th in program history for his time in the 800. Crosswhite's time in the 800 ranks 46th nationally and his time in the 1,500 ranks 64th nationally.
Kanelis is a senior from Camas, Wash., and is majoring in information technology. Kanelis didn't compete during the 2021 outdoor season, last seeing time during the 2020 indoor season where he ran in the 800 coming in seventh at the GNAC Championships. He also ran a leg of the DMR. During that indoor season, he also participated in the 4x400 relay and the mile.
Alnazer is a senior from Monterey, Calif., and is majoring in exercise science. Alnazer competed in several meets throughout the 2021 outdoor season. He began his season at the PNW Team Clash setting a personal-best in the 1,500 crossing at 4:02.74. He also competed in the 800 throughout the year, posting his best time of the season during the GNAC Championships crossing at 1:55.49.
Giordano is a senior from Lynnwood, Wash., and is majoring in organizational leadership. Giordano is coming off a strong race in the GNAC Championships competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase where he placed fifth with a time of 9:14.69. That time ranks ninth on the WOU all-time list. His time in the event ranks 44th nationally.
Karsten Collins is a senior from Portland, Ore., and is majoring in information systems. It's been a strong outdoor season for Karsten this outdoor season, setting personal-best marks in both the discus and hammer. He recently won the discus at the GNAC Championships with a new PR of 150-5. The meet before that at the Oregon State High Performance, Karsten hit a new distance in the hammer with a PR of 155-9. He also added team points at the GNAC Championships with a season-best throw in the shot put of 45-11.75.
Owen Collins is a senior from Portland, Ore., and is majoring in criminal justice. Owen tallied points for his team in all three throwing events at the GNAC Championships. Owen placed fourth in the shot put tying a season-best throw of 48-4.75. He then placed fifth in the discus with a season-best throw of 142-7. Owen hit a new personal-best distance in the hammer coming in sixth with a distance of 161-0.
Cranston is a senior from Canby, Ore., and is majoring in history. Cranston didn't compete during this outdoor season, last seeing time on the track during the 2020 indoor season. During that year he posted a personal-best time of 52.75 in the 400 and competed in the 1,500, 800, the 4x400 relay and the DMR.
Knott is a senior from Newport, Ore., and is majoring in earth science. Knott compete in five meets during the 2021 outdoor season, all in the 800. He competed in the event at the GNAC Championships and posted his top season time in the 800 at the Oregon State High Performance crossing at 1:54.69.
Goldstein is a junior from Sherwood, Ore., and is majoring in psychology. Goldstein has thrown the javelin in five meets this outdoor season, posting a personal-best distance of 188-1 during the John Knight Twilight. He was close to that mark at the GNAC Championships when his throw of 187-1 helped him place second. His best throw of 188-1 ranks 38th nationally in the javelin.
Ford is a junior from San Dimas, Calif, and is majoring in business. Ford competed in three meets this outdoor season, running in the 100, 200 and the 4x100 relay. Ford set a season-best time in the 100 at the GNAC Championships crossing at 11.14. He was part of the 4x100 relay that placed fifth. His top time on the season in the 200 was 23.43 during the John Knight Twilight.
Harrison is a sophomore from Las Vegas, Nev., and is majoring in education. Harrison competed in the long jump and the triple jump throughout the outdoor season. He began the year hitting a season-best in the long jump at the PNW Team Clash hitting a mark of 20-7. He set his triple jump mark of 45-1.5 at the Titan Invitational. Harrison competed at the GNAC Championships in the triple jump coming in fifth.
