April 29, 2003

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University is looking to be the spoiler in both the men's and women's divisions at the second annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Ellensburg.

The pre-meet favorites are Western Oregon in the men's division, and Seattle Pacific in the women's division. The Wolves have won seven straight conference men's titles and the Falcons are working on a string of three women's crowns.

"I think this is going to be a great championship meet," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "You've got Western Oregon and us vying for the men's title, and you can't discount Central Washington. It's going to very close. And on the women's side, it's also going to be a tight battle. Seattle Pacific is the favorite, but Western Oregon and ourselves are going to be right there."

Western was the host of the first GNAC meet held last year, the Vikings placing second in the men's division and third in the women's division.

"This year we're by far a much more balanced team on the men's side," Halsell said. "We'll score as many or more points, and they will be more evenly distributed. Everything is covered, and that's what we need. And on the women's side, I think we're a better team all the way around."

The Western women are led by javelin thrower Stacey Hopkins (Jr., Sammamish/Eastlake), pole vaulter Andrea Kreft (Fr., Lake Stevens), sprinter Dania Swosinski (Jr., Tacoma/Wilson), discus thrower Jessica Telleria (Fr., Boise, ID/Capital), and distance runners Ashlee Vincent (So., Bellingham/Squalicum) and Lisa Pearl (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor).

Swosinski was a double-event winner at last year's meet, taking the 200 and 400 meters. She will compete in those two events as well as the two relays.

"Dania's been bothered by a hamstring injury and I'm a little concerned about that, but she's a competitor and will give it her all," said Halsell.

Vincent is a NCAA Division II national provisional qualifier in the 1,500 (4:36.94), 3,000 (9:53.04) and 5,000 (17:02.00). She will run in the 1,500 and 3,000 on Saturday. Pearl, who is a provisional qualifier in the 10,000 (37:10.77), competes in the 5,000.

Hopkins is a provisional qualifier in the javelin, her season-best toss of 148-4 being the fifth-best in school history. Another qualifier is Kreft (Fr., Lake Stevens) in the pole vault (11-3), and Telleria with a season-best discus throw of 138-4 is just under five feet short of the standard.

Pacing the Viking men are Zach Boteilho (Sr., Camas), a provisional qualifier in the 10,000 (30:33.23) who is running the 5,000; distance runner Steve DeKoker (Sr., Maple Valley/Tahoma), pole vaulters Hunter Verner (So., Nashville, TN) (15-3) and Scott Romney (So., Gig Harbor) (15-1), and T.J. Garlatz (Sr., Redmond/Inglemoor) in the 10,000 (33:07.5).

Western Oregon's men are led by Mike Hinshaw, who won the 100 and 200 in 2002 and ran on two winning relay teams. Another double-event winner back, besides Swosinski, is Central's Justin Lawrence in the men's long jump and triple jump. Central's Alicen Maier, who won the women's 1,500 and 3,000 last year, will not compete because of injury.

"If we're going to win, everybody is going to have to compete," said Halsell. "It's about competition now, and improving on what they've done."