University of Washington sophomore Colby Gilbert won the 5,000-meter run at the Pepsi Team Invitational meet Saturday in Eugene, Ore.
The Skyview High School graduate and collegiate All-American opened his outdoor season with a flourish. He was named Tuesday as the Pacific-12 Conference Men’s Track Athlete of the Week for the first time in his career.
Running in a field that featured Oregon’s 13-time NCAA champion Edward Cheserek, Gilbert took the lead with three laps to go and Cheserek sat right behind him as they pulled away from the rest of the field.
With 200 meters to go, Gilbert put on a burst, and Cheserek did not make a push to respond, with Gilbert pulling away to win in a new career-best of 13 minutes, 44.96 seconds.
That time moves him to No. 4 in the NCAA this season, and is the second-fastest in UW school history behind the 13:40.61 of David Bazzi from 2001.
“I knew I just had to get grinding early, he’s got a massive kick,” Gilbert told gohuskies.com of Cheserek. “I don’t know if he really let loose on me, but if I want to beat him I’ve got to go early and drag it out a bit, and I’ve got a decent kick, too.
“I was hoping it was good enough, and it was today. I’ve been training really hard … and to be building and be able to compete at this high level against him is awesome.”
The Huskies won nine event titles, including every track race from 1,500 meters and up, to place third. Meet host Oregon and Penn State tied for the team title with 181.5 points each. UW had 168, and Southern California 94.
Attendance at Hayward Field was 5,423.
Gymnastics
Sac State’s McCartney ties for 7th at regional
Sacramento State senior Kalliah McCartney of Vancouver tied for seventh place in the all-around at the NCAA Salt Lake City Regional gymnastics meet April 2 at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center.
McCartney, who trained at Naydenov Gymnastics of Vancouver and Multnomah Athletic Club of Portland, scored 39.150 points (9.850 in vault, 9.650 on bars, 9.750 on beam and 9.900 on floor), falling 0.125 points short of returning to nationals.
McCartney’s score on floor is the highest by a Hornet gymnast in NCAA postseason competition.
She is the only national qualifier in program history, reaching the NCAA championships in 2014 as a junior before taking a medical redshirt season last year after breaking a bone in her left foot.
Track and field
GNAC honors SPU runner Decker again
Seattle Pacific senior Lynelle Decker was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Track Athlete of the Week for March 28-April 3.
The Mountain View High School graduate entered the top 10 on this year’s NCAA Division II performance lists in the 800 (2:08.08) and 1,500 meters (4:30.67) and as part of the 4×400 relay (3:43.76) with her performances at the Stanford Invitational on April 1-2.
According to the website athletic.net, Decker has the fastest time in the 800 and seventh-fastest in the 1,500 this season in NCAA Division II.
Track and field
Saints’ Porter breaks own record in 5,000
Saint Martin’s University senior Shannon Porter placed second in the 5,000 meters at the San Francisco Distance Carnival held April 1 at San Francisco State University, breaking her own school record with a time of 16:32.03.
The previous standard was 16:37.99. The Hockinson High School graduate ran an NCAA-II provisional national qualifying time.
Track and field
Mountaineers’ Porter garners RMAC honors
Western State Colorado University junior Georgia Porter was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Female Track Athlete of the Week after finishing 15th in her section of the 5,000 meters April 1 at the Stanford Invitational.
The Hockinson High School gradaute’s time of 16:20.61 is fourth-fastest in school history and an NCAA Division II national qualifier. It is the second fastest time in NCAA-II this season, according to the athletic.net website.
Cross country
Guenther honored as All-Academic selection
Western Washington senior Taylor Guenther was named to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s Division II Academic Team.
The Prairie High school graduate, who carries a cumulative grade point average of 3.88 as a communications major, was honored for the fourth season. Guenther placed 26th at NCAA Division II nationals held in November in Joplin, Mo., earning All-America honors.
Golf
Sac State’s Bartek ties career low, leads team
Sacramento State junior Chloe Bartek led the Hornets to a seventh-place tie at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic played April 3-5 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz., shooting 75-71-76–222 to tie for 15th place. The Columbia River High School graduate matched her collegiate career low with her round of 1-under 71.
Softball
Fritter sets NCU career home runs record
Northwest Christian University senior Parker Fritter hit two home runs in the second game of an April 2 doubleheader against Corban University, matching then breaking the Beacons record for career homers with 33.
The Union High School graduate, who plays third base, is now up to 10 homers this season for NCU (13-27, 7-13 Cascade Collegiate Conference) and 34 in her career.
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