United Athletic Conference

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Grand Canyon swept the 2016 WAC Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Chanpionships on Saturday at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kan. It is the second championship for both the men's and women's teams this year, as the Antelopes also took home the WAC Indoor titles in February.

Entering the final day of competition in the top spot, Grand Canyon's women maintained the lead with the help of four first-place finishes, including eventual Outstanding Field Performer Tarasue Barnett's win in the shot put.

Utah Valley's women solidified their hold on second place overall with their own four gold medals, including Savannah Berry's second win of the meet (5,000m, 10,000m) on her way to being voted Outstanding Track Performer by the coaches.

NM State also turned in four first-place performances, while Kimberly Salinas was named Freshman of the Year and teammate Katara Nelson earned the High Point Award, tallying 21.50 points this week.

UT Rio Grande Valley's Geneva Anderson added a 400-meter hurdles gold medal to the Vaqueros' tally, and Missouri-Kansas City's Mallory Short finished first in the 100-meter hurdles, making it the third straight WAC outdoor championship that UMKC was represented atop the podium in the event.

For the men, Grand Canyon earned three first-place finishes, including a career-best time in the 800 meters by Brandon Gonzalez. Teammate Marcus Flannigan anchored the Antelopes' first-place 4x400m relay race and earned the High Point award, amassing 28.50 points on the week.

UMKC also took home three gold medals, including Bryce Miller's third consecutive WAC Outdoor title in the 5000 meters.

Seattle U tallied three first-place finishes as well, two of which captured by Shaddye Melu as he finished first in the 400 meters and defended his conference title in the high jump.

UT Rio Grande Valley's Paul May nabbed the top spot in the men's discus on his way to taking home the Freshman of the Year award.

Utah Valley went home with two of the men's individual awards and five first-place finishes. Nicholas Taylor repeated as the 100-meter champion and added the 200-meter title on his way to earning the Outstanding Track Performer award, and teammate Daven Russell garnered Outstanding Field Performer honors.

Grand Canyon head coach Tom Flood received Men's Coach of the Year and Women's Coach of the Year honors.

Men's Individual Awards (voted upon by the coaches)
Outstanding Track Performer: Nick Taylor, Utah Valley
Outstanding Field Performer: Daven Russell, Utah Valley
Freshman of the Year: Paul May, UT Rio Grande Valley
High Point Award Winner: Marcus Flannigan, Grand Canyon, 28.50 points
Coach of the Year: Tom Flood, Grand Canyon

Women's Individual Awards (voted upon by the coaches)
Outstanding Track Performer: Savannah Berry, Utah Valley
Outstanding Field Performer: Tarasue Barnett, Grand Canyon
Freshman of the Year: Kimberly Salinas, NM State
High Point Award Winner: Katara Nelson, NM State, 21.50 points
Coach of the Year: Tom Flood, Grand Canyon

05.14.16 - Day Four Results (pdf)

-WAC-