MSUB women's track and field at GNAC Indoor Championships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu February 17, 2016 Yellowjackets set for GNAC Championships MSUB Track and Field on Facebook GNAC Track and Field Weekly Reports GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships TFRRS Performance Lists

Sophomore Amanda Nichols has the fifth-best height in the GNAC this season.

The MSUB women’s track and field team is heading for Nampa, Idaho, and the indoor conference championships.

BILLINGS, Mont. – The MSUB women’s track and field team is set to compete at the 2016 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Championships being held Feb. 19-20, in Nampa, Idaho.

Northwest Nazarene is hosting the event at the Ford Sports Center - Jackson's Track, that will see competition from 10 GNAC schools.

“Although we don’t have the depth to go after a team title, we do hope to see a few all-conference performances and possibly a couple NCAA qualifiers,” MSUB head coach Dave Coppock said. “The scoring runs 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, for places 1st through 8th so it’s weighted pretty heavy at the top end. It’s tough to crack that top-8 and even if you do, it only amounts to a few points, so it’s difficult to rack up many points unless you’ve got several people in those top-3 spots.”

Heading into the championships, senior transfer Della Lyle holds the ninth fastest time in the conference this season in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters. Sophomore Amanda Nichols holds the highest ranking in the GNAC for MSUB at fifth in the pole vault with a height of 3.20 meters.

“Della has a very good chance of scoring in the women’s 5,000 and 3,000 meters,” Coppock said “She’s only run the 5,000 meters once this season in a very early meet, so I think she’s got a lot of upside potential to shoot for an allconference (top 3) spot. Amanda is ranked fairly high in the pole vault and could come away with some decent points.

She finished 4th last year as a freshman. Janessa has been improving all season in the triple jump and 60 meter hurdles, so we’re hoping for a couple good finishes from her as well.”

Janessa Williams completed the ninth-best distance in the GNAC in the triple jump this season at 10.80 meters. She will also compete in the long jump and 60 meter hurdles this weekend for MSUB. Joining Williams in the triple jump and long jump is freshman Shaniah Schwend. Another freshman, Josey Smiedala, is set to compete in the 400 meters while senior Blair Street will run in the 60 and 200 meters.

Entered in the 3,000 meters with Lyle is junior Rio Frame while in the 5,000 meters, Lyle will be joined by sophomore Bailey Bomar and senior Jinise Trueblood.

In the throws, freshman Becky Gerst will compete in the shot put and weight throw. Gerst holds the 14th best distance in the weight throw this season at 12.98 meters.

In the relays, the Yellowjackets will have teams run the 4 x 400 meters and the distance medley relay.

The 2016 GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships opens on Feb. 19, with the men’s 60 meter hurdle trials at 2:30 p.m. The field events open at 3:30 p.m. with the men’s weight throw.

For a listing of all the events, their start and performance list, as well as results, please visit the GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships page here.

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