The Vikings celebrated a successful GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship on May 10-11 at Civic Stadium in Bellingham. This weekend’s GNAC sweep marked the 14th consecutive track & field and cross country team titles.
The Vikings celebrated 39 total All-GNAC performances for a top three podium finish. They brought home 14 gold medal finishes, 11 silver medal finishes and 14 bronze medal finishes.
Five Vikings set school records at the GNAC championships this weekend, including junior Bec Bennett, who broke her own school and GNAC record for the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.11. Ryan Greenwalt, Isaac Ford, Evin Ford and Nolan Mickenham broke the school record in the 4x100-meter relay race with a time of 40.68. Senior Ila Davis earned the Women’s Performance of the Meet award after winning her fourth consecutive 3000-meter steeplechase title with a time of 10:26.43.
“Winning at GNACs is super special, especially at our home track,” Davis said. “Getting to compete here and win here surrounded by my family is just so special and exactly how I’d want to close my chapter.”
After wrapping up her collegiate career this season, Davis hopes to take a break and recharge, but then she wants to transition into competitive triathlons.
Another senior who made a big impact throughout his time at Western is Kevin McDermott, who won his 10th and 11th career GNAC titles this weekend in the 1500-meter with a time of 3:47.48. He set the meet record in the 5000-meter with a time of 14:24.94.
“I want to PR every time I run, but the focus really is on the national meet and trying to be a first team All-American there, which is something I’ve been close to but haven’t done,” McDermott said. “Everything’s been building up to that, and I feel like I put myself in a good position to hopefully accomplish that in two weeks.”
Injuries, mental health and overall well-being can play a factor in how the season goes for athletes. Austin Seals, a junior multis Viking, tore his hamstring his sophomore year. This year, he had foot problems, so he took the winter season off and got his assistant nursing certificate and started coaching high school track. He wasn’t sure if he was going to come back to compete. On Friday, Seals managed to win gold in the pole vault.
“Realistically, when I came back six weeks ago, my goal was just to clear a few bars,” Seals said. “I didn’t really expect this to be honest, so I’m on a high right now.”
One thing that stands out every season is the 4x400-meter relay GNAC championship race, when around 120 Viking athletes line the track with 120 meters to go and cheer on their runners. “We talk about being a culture-first program, and community being really important in our team,” head coach Ben Stensland said. “Those are the special moments of every season that’s become a true tradition, and I think that’s a big part of what makes our program special.”
A handful of Viking athletes will be catching a flight to Pueblo, Colo., for the The NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 22-24.
On the men’s side, Jakob Braunstein qualified for the NCAA Championships for the javelin throw. Kevin McDermott qualified for the 1500-meter run prelims and 5000-meter run and Maurice Woodring qualified for the 400-meter hurdle prelims.
On the women’s side, Bec Bennett qualified for the 400-meter dash prelims. Ila Davis qualified for the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase prelims and Jessica Polkinghorn qualified for shot put. Katie Potts qualified for discus throw.
“So many hours, so many repetitions, so many miles have been accumulated over their career and over the season,” Stensland said. “The week leading up to national championships are really just like how can we get them mentally prepared and physically doing as little as possible to keep them sharp and keep them fresh.”
As seniors leave and the team transforms for next year, the goal of continuing the successful legacy remains the same.
“One thing that makes this job really special is you just never know who’s going to bust their butt over this summer and over the off season and surprise us,” Stensland said. “Danielle McLain has been that this summer. She came back, and actually, all of our distance runners over last summer came back and really did some special things. I think that’s what makes it exciting.”
Brady Rufner (he/him) is a sports and recreation reporter for The Front. He is in his first year at Western and is majoring in visual journalism. When he isn’t covering stories or taking photos, he is usually running, skiing, or playing soccer. You can reach him at bradyrufner.thefront@gmail.com.
