ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Several strong performances highlighted an impressive run to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title for the Western Oregon University women's track and field team on Saturday. The Wolves finished with 155 points and secure their first GNAC outdoor title since 2008 and the fifth since 2000. The 155 points is the most since the 2008 championship team that tallied 162 points.

"Great day for our Western Oregon track and field family. I'm very proud of our men and women," head coach Octavious Gillespie-Bennett said. "It was hard to imagine that our athletes would be able to top the great performance they accomplished during the indoor season, but they exceeded all expectations. As a coach, it is great to know your team has a great fighting spirit."

WOU entered the day tied with Western Washington, but once the combined events were factored in overnight, the Wolves moved into the lead and never looked back.

After Jenelle Hurley, Moana Gianotti and Kaylee Wright all won individual GNAC titles, that momentum carried right into another successful day on Saturday.

Wright, who will be preparing for the NCAA Nationals coming up, not only won the javelin on Friday, but holds the fourth-best mark in the event in NCAA DII this year.

"I walked into conference not completely knowing what was going to happen. I knew I had to buckle down and compete for the top spot because it wasn't going to come easy," Wright said. "I had to remember that I knew what I was doing and I was there for a reason. Having those four women's throwers beside me was amazing, I appreciate their support. I am so thankful for this experience and to have so many great teammates there to cheer me on!"

Ana Popchock made it four individual titles when she won the triple jump with a new personal-best distance of 38-11.75. That new mark ranks in a tie for second on the WOU all-time list.

Hurley added more points in the triple jump when she moved into the top 10 in program history with a distance of 37-5.25 to place fifth. That new personal-best ranks in a tie for ninth on the WOU all-time list. Hurley was named the GNAC Female Field Athlete of the Meet. Collecting a win in the long jump, placing second in the heptathlon and fifth in the triple jump. On the track, Hurley placed fifth in both the 100 and 400 hurdles.

"I'm so proud of our team! We had a lot of people step up and get extra points that largely contributed to our win which was really awesome. We came and took care of business this weekend!" Hurley said. "As far as my own performance I was entered in a few events that I don't usually do in order to score points. Even though it was out of my comfort zone, I'm really happy that I was able to score those points for the team. Long jump was never-racking scratching my first two preliminary jumps and having to get that third mark just to get to finals, but I'm really excited with how it turned out and can't wait to get back out there next season!"

One of those new events was the 400 hurdles and Hurley added points coming in fifth with a time of 1:04.39 for a new personal-best. Madeline Lambing put together a big finals in the 400 hurdles as well coming in with a new PR time of 1:03.85 to place third. That new time also ranks ninth on the WOU all-time list.

Maliyah Thompson posted a new PR time in the 100 hurdles coming in at 14.64 to place fourth. Her new time ranks in a tie for sixth on the WOU all-time list. Hurley was right behind coming in fifth with a time of 14.72.

Jessy Hart kept the big PR performances going when she crossed with a time of 58.24 in the 400 to place fifth.

Caitlin Heldt and Luz Garcia picked up points for the Wolves in the 5,000. Heldt placed third with a time of 18:00.46. Garcia then placed seventh with a time of 18:29.97. Emily Johnson also competed in the event coming in 14^th.

Liliana Lyness-Morales hit a new PR distance in the hammer with a mark of 155-6 to place fourth. Emilia Carpenter followed that up with a new PR as well coming in seventh with a distance of 145-4.

Gianotti repeated as shot put champion on Friday and also competed in the hammer on Saturday finishing 13^th.

"I've been on this team for five years now and I couldn't be happier with the way I'm ending my athletic career," Gianotti said. "I'm super happy with the way me season ended with another GNAC Championship not only in the shot put, but with the entire women's team too! I could not be any prouder to have been on this team! I'm beyond honored to have been a Wolf!"

Amity Deters hit a new PR height in the high jump reaching a mark of 5-4.5. Kalulusno Ngaida tallied points as well in the event clearing a height of 5-2.5 to place fifth. Hurley placed 11^th and Macy Clemens came in 12^th.

Logan Jackson and Hailey Blue both competed in the triple jump as well with Jackson placing 14^th and Blue coming in 15^th.

Katie Chapman placed 14^th in the 1,500.

Then the relay teams helped put the finishing touches on the day with the 4x100 team of Maya Hopwood, Taryn Wilson, Popchock and Thompson placing fourth with a time of 47.28 to break the school record and the 4x400 relay team of Lambing, Thompson, Peyton Green and Hart coming in fifth with a time of 4:00.16.

WOU ended up winning the title by 25 points over Western Washington. Simon Fraser placed third with 129 points.

The Wolves will now wait for the NCAA announcement this coming Tuesday to see which athletes will be selected to the NCAA Nationals.