
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program will be represented by student-athletes Bethany Drake (Javelin), Brittany Grant (Steeplechase) and Anna Paradee (Pole Vault) at the 2017 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The championships will be held May 25-27 in Bradenton, Florida at IMG Academy. The University of Tampa and IMG Academy will serve as co-hosts of the championships. The championships will be streamed live on NCAA.com each day with live results also available online.
The trio of WWU female student-athletes were part of a group of 43 athletes from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference that qualified for the national meet. A total of 754 participants — 377 men and 377 women — will compete in the championships after qualifying for the championships by reaching the automatic and provisional standards established for each event.
Drake (Sr., Sandy, OR) will be competing in the javelin at the national championships for the fourth time in her career and will be looking to add a second national title to her trophy case. Drake placed 13th at the national meet as a freshman, won the title in 2014, redshirted in 2015 and placed 2nd last season. She enters the meet ranked 2nd in NCAA II with a season-high toss of 52.40m/171-11 recorded over the weekend while winning her first GNAC title. Estefania Lopez of Fort Hays Stats is the current national leader with a season-high mark of 53.77m/176-5.
Grant (Jr., Port Townsend, WA) is ranked 15th nationally in the 3,000m steeplechase with a season-best time of 10:32.60 recorded at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival. She won the GNAC title in the event over the weekend in a time of 10:43.80. This will be the second time Grant has competed at the national championships, placing 20th in last year’s steeplechase and 21st in the 5,000m.
Paradee (Jr., Tacoma, WA/Decatur) enters the NCAA II Championships ranked 6th in the nation with a season best mark of 4.01m/13-1.75. The junior twice set the WWU and GNAC marks in the pole vault, first clearing 3.86m/12-8 at the Ralph Vernacchia Track & Field Meet in Bellingham, and then shattered her own record with an NCAA II automatic qualifying mark of 4.01m/13-1.75 at the Ken Shannon Invitational in Seattle.
The Vikings placed 2nd (men) and 5th (women) at the GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships over the weekend. Five WWU male student-athletes recorded an NCAA II provisional qualifying mark, including three by junior thrower Brandon Pless (Sedro-Woolley, WA) in the discus, shot put and hammer throw, but did qualify for the national championships.
2017 NCAA II Outdoor Track & Field Championships:
-
Headlines
-
WWU Hosts 37th Annual Ralph Vernacchia Meet on Saturday
The Vikings compete at Civic Stadium for the second of two meets in Bellingham during the season
-
Taylor Posts Provisional Qualifier at Beach Invitational
Junior Maddie Taylor clears 1.70m (5-7) in the high jump as Vikings close out final day of California trip
-
WWU Adds Provisional-Qualifying Marks Friday at Bryan Clay Invitational
Tupre Wickliff and Kyler Sager post provisional qualifiers, Natalie Vetto improves upon provisional mark
-
WWU Posts Strong Performances on Thursday at APU
Seren Dances and Peyton Shinnick record program top-10 marks at Bryan Clay Invitational
-
Vikings Headed to Bryan Clay Invitational and Beach Invitational
WWU competes Wednesday through Saturday at APU (April 18-20) and LBSU (April 20-21)
-
WWU Earns Team Titles at SMU Jay Hammer Meet
Vikings claim six event wins, four marks added to program top-10 lists on Saturday
-
Women's Indoor Track & Field 2018 Season in Review
WWU placed 5th at the GNAC Championships, added 26 program top-10 marks (one GNAC/school record)
-
Men's Indoor Track & Field 2018 Season in Review
The Vikings placed 5th at the GNAC Championships, added 20 program top-10 marks
-
Vikings Travel to Saint Martin's for Jay Hammer Meet
WWU returns to the road after hosting the WWU Team Invitational last Friday
-
Vikings Sweep Team Titles at WWU Team Invitational
Three Vikings improve provisional-qualifying marks as WWU competes at home in Bellingham
-
Track & Field to Host WWU Team Invitational on Friday
WWU welcomes Seattle Pacific, Saint Martin's and British Columbia to Civic Stadium
-
Raquel Pellecer Named GNAC Female Field Athlete of the Week (Again)
WWU javelin thrower Pellecer earns third GNAC weekly award of the outdoor season
-
Standout Performances Highlight Saturday's Competition
WWU Track & Field was spread across four events on Saturday in Washington, California and British Columbia
-
WWU Opens Competition at Stanford, SF State and UBC on Friday
Two Vikings improve provisional qualifiers, Hannah Nienaber adds provisional-qualifying javelin throw
-
Vikings to Compete at Four Meets During Weekend
WWU travels to the Bay Area, Canada and Tacoma as outdoor season continues at four locations
-
-
Schedules