Seattle Pacific University junior Lynelle Decker was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for her performances at the SPU Final Qualifier meet Saturday at the Dempsey Indoor facility in Seattle.
The Mountain View High School graduate helped the Falcons’ distance medley relay to a season-best time of 11 minutes, 47.33 seconds, then ran a personal best of 2:11.51 in the 800 meters to assure herself a spot in the upcoming NCAA Division II championships.
Decker ran her 800-meter leg of the relay in 2:13, two seconds faster than her relay split 15 days previously. With the 13th best time in NCAA-II this season, the SPU quartet of decker, Jessica Rawlins, Becca Houk and Anna Patti garnered a spot in nationals on March 13-14 in Birmingham, Ala.
About an hour after the relay race, Decker stepped to the starting line for the 800, hoping to improve on her 19th-place national ranking. Decker delivered a career-best time of 2:11.51, and moved up to 12th place. That’s well within the top 16 and assured her of a third consecutive trip to indoor nationals.
“I’ve been running 2:12s since the first meet, and I was kind of getting sick of it,” Decker told the school website spufalcons.com. “I knew I needed to go faster to secure a spot. I was surprised with 2:11 — I thought I was going to be a low 2:12.”
Decker is seeded 11th in the 800 and the relay is seeded 13th at nationals.
The GNAC weekly award was the first of Decker’s career, and the first for Seattle Pacific this season.
Indoor track and field
Van Valey, Decker USTFCCCA All-Region
Seattle Pacific University’s Lynelle Decker and Northwest Nazarene University’s Taylor Van Valey have been named All-West Region performers by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for NCAA Division II.
Van Valey, a Hockinson High School graduate, was honored in the shot put.
Decker, a Mountain View High School graduate, was recognized in the 800 meters and as part of SPU’s distance medley relay team.
The top five individuals in each NCAA-II region garner All-Region status.
Indoor track and field
UW’s Owsinski wins another pole vault title
University of Washington junior Kristina Owsinski won the pole vault competition at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships on Friday at UW’s Dempsey Indoor facility.
The Prairie High School graduate cleared 14 feet, 2 inches to win a second consecutive MSPF title in the event with a personal best. Her winning height last year was 13-5¾.
Owsinski’s mark should qualify her for the NCAA Division I championships next week in Arkansas.
Women’s basketball
Williams moves atop Big Sky rebounds list
Eastern Washington senior Melissa Williams moved atop the Big Sky Conference rebounding list over the weekend as the Eagles dropped both games of their Montana State/Montana road trip.
The Camas High School graduate grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds in Friday’s loss at Montana State. She also had 16 points, her fourth consecutive double-double and 10th of the season. That string ended Saturday at Montana with nine points and eight rebounds, but the weekend improved her rebounding average to 9.5 a game. North Dakota’s Mia Loyd is second at 9.3.
EWU concludes the regular season with home games this weekend Thursday against Idaho State and Saturday against Weber State. North Dakota has one game left, at home Saturday against Northern Colorado.
Both teams have clinched spots in the conference tournament.
Women’s basketball
Bowen leads Wildcats in first Chico season
Chico State junior Brooke Bowen recorded her third double-double of the season Friday with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the Wildcats’ victory over Cal State Monterey Bay.
The Skyview High School graduate started every game in her first season with the Wildcats, who finished 10-16 (7-15 California Collegiate Athletic Association).
Bowen led the team in rebounding (5.5 a game) and blocks (17 of the team’s 52), and averaged 9.3 points a game. Her .417 shooting percentage (103 of 247) led players who attempted more than 25 shots during the season.
Baseball
CCC honors Hadley
Concordia University junior Austin Hadley was named Cascade Collegiate Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week.
The Evergreen High School graduate pitched a seven-inning complete game on Sunday against NCAA Division II Northwest Nazarene for the NAIA Cavaliers. The right-hander struck out 10 batters while surrendering just four hits and one walk.
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