Halvorson Wins Discus Title on Day One of GNAC Championships

Day 1 Results

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Montana State Billings junior, Alexi Halvorson, had the throw of a lifetime in the discus event on day one of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships Friday evening in Monmouth. Halvorson led the Yellowjackets in scoring as MSUB has accumulated 10 points in day one on the women’s side, while the men have amassed two points.

Halvorson bested Joy Warrington of Northwest Nazarene with a toss of 135-8 (41.36 m), while Warrington threw 132-10 (40.48).

Other performances by the Yellowjackets came in the preliminary races as Erika Halle turned in a 12.75 in the 100 meter sprint, finishing seventh in her heat. Justine Simons and Britney Derhak also competed in the 100, turning in times of 12.87 and 12.98, respectively.

In the 200 meter sprint, Halle again turned in the top time for the Yellowjackets, finishing third in heat two with a time of 25.88. Derhak was fifth in heat one with a 26.68, while Simons was fifth in heat three with a 26.63.

Sarah Jackson represented the Jackets in the 800 meter run with a fourth place finish in heat two, turning in a time of 2:17.96.

Western Washington and Seattle Pacific are currently tied for the team championship with 68.50 points. Northwest Nazarene sits in third with 54.4 points, followed by Western Oregon (38), Central Washington (21), Alaska Anchorage (11), MSUB (10) and Saint Martin’s (1).

Already qualified for the national meet in the javelin, freshman Nick Wilson finished seventh in the discus event with a throw of 145-05 (44.30 m) to lead the men’s side on day one. Elsewhere for the men, Nathan Diede finished sixth in heat one in the 200 meter sprint with a time of 23.13.

Western Washington’s men’s team also is command of the team championship race with a 37 point lead over Central Washington. The Vikings have 91 points, followed by the Wildcats (54), Western Oregon (54), Alaska Anchorage (42), Northwest Nazarene (17), Seattle Pacific (13) and MSUB (2).