MONMOUTH, Ore. – Senior David Registe was named the Most Outstanding Male Performer Saturday at the conclusion of the 2011 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Track & Field Outdoor Championships, after posting a meet-record five titles at McArthur Field.
On Day 2 of the Championships, the Seawolves combined for seven GNAC individual titles to tie a program-best nine over the two-day haul. Overall, the Seawolves claimed 13 all-conference certificates and posted one school record. The Seawolves had produced nine titles during the 2010 and 2008 season.
The men's team finished the meet in fourth place with 103 points, while the women's team was sixth with 86 points. Western Oregon (203) and Seattle Pacific (206) came away with the men's and women's team titles, respectively.
A native of Palmer (Colony HS), Registe became the first athlete to post five GNAC titles, after sweeping the 100 meters and 200 meters. Registe, who won the long jump on Friday with a leap of 24-6.25, was also a member of the winning 4x100-meter relay team and the 4x400-meter relay team.
Registe won the 100 meters with a time of 10.76, before claiming the 200 title in 21.69. Registe anchored the 4x100-meter relay, helping the Seawolves to their first title in the event since 2008 with a time of 42.20. Joining Registe on the winning squad was sophomore A.J. Allen, freshman Billy Kiefer and junior Shaun Ward.
Registe helped the UAA 4x400-meter relay team defend its title for the third straight season with a time of 3:17.93. Senior Levi Sutton was the lead off leg, followed by junior Alfred Kangogo, Registe and Ward.
Claiming his second GNAC title of the meet Saturday was sophomore Micah Chelimo with a win in the 5,000 meters. Chelimo, from Kapkoi, Kenya, defended his title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday, before registering a personal-best time of 14:29.41 in the 5K.
Meanwhile, collecting the first GNAC title of his career was Ward in the 400-meter hurdles. The Eagle River native was clocked at 52.23 for a UAA record and the program's first win in the men's event.
On the women's side, sophomore Ruth Keino earned her first GNAC title with the victory in the 5K. From Kapcheno, Kenya, Keino broke the tape at 17:23.81, besting junior teammate Miriam Kipng'eno (17:29.78), who finished second for all-conference honors.
Also garnering all-conference honors was senior Ardrienna Everett (1:03.07) in the 400-meter hurdles, good for second place, and Kangogo (1:57.06) in the 1500 meters with a runner-up performance.
Setting the lone UAA record on the women's side was the 4x100-meter relay team. The foursome of juniors Dianne Chong and Kelsea Johnson and freshmen Sasha Halfyard and Haleigh Lloyd recorded a new time of 48.54, bypassing the previous record of 48.75 set in this year's season-opener Mar. 5.
Qualified individuals will have the next weekend off before heading to Turlock, Calif., for the 2011 NCAA Div. II Track & Field Championships on May 26-28.
TEAM SCORES
Men's Team Scores - Western Oregon 203, Western Washington 173 1/2, Central Washington 130, Alaska Anchorage 103, Northwest Nazarene 83 1/2, Seattle Pacific 63, Simon Fraser 48, MSU Billings 8, Saint Martin's 7.
Women's Team Scores - Seattle Pacific 206 1/2, Western Washington 121, Western Oregon 109,Central Washington 97, Northwest Nazarene 88 1/2, Alaska Anchorage 86, Simon Fraser 79, MSU Billings 21, Saint Martin's 11.
