Community Roundup: Bland named GNAC Newcomer of the Year
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Emily Bland made an instant impact at Central Washington University.
Bland, a 2014 Monroe High School graduate and a junior on the Wildcats’ women’s track and field team, was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Female Newcomer of the Year last week for her exploits in the hurdles.
Bland won the GNAC championship in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 1 minute, 0.58 seconds on May 13 in Monmouth, Oregon. The time broke her own school record and was the fourth-fastest time in GNAC history. Bland also finished fifth in the 100 hurdles at the meet in a time of 15.11, and she was part of the Wildcats’ 1,600 relay team that placed fourth in a school-record time of 3:53.42.
Bland went on to compete in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 25-27 in Bradenton, Florida. She was one of two members of Central’s team to qualify for nationals. Bland finished 14th.
In addition to qualifying for nationals, Bland also was named to the Outdoor Track and Field All-West Region team by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Bland transferred to Central this season following two years at Everett Community College, where she was the 2016 NWAC champion in both the 400 hurdles and 100 hurdles.
Neale earns All-American status
Amy-Eloise Neale, a junior at the University of Washington and a graduate of Glacier Peak High School, finished eighth in the women’s 1,500 at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday in Eugene, Oregon.
In a race that was closely bunched at the front, Neale finished with a time of 4:14.89, which was just 1.11 seconds behind winner Jaimie Phelan of Michigan. By finishing in the top eight Neale earned first-team All-American honors.
Neale finished 10th in the nation in the 1,500 last year and was a second-team All-American.
ERA eight reaches B final
The Everett Rowing Association’s boys eight plus coxswain boat reached the B final in its division at the U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals on Sunday in Sarasota, Florida. The boat qualified for the B final by placing ninth in the time trials and fourth in its semifinal. Everett finished second in the B final.
Everett’s team consisted of Parker Bumstead, Kyle Freeman, Cameron Helgerson, Chase Barrows, Ethan Grice, Chandler Kovacevich, Sam Willie, Dekker Lane and Dustin Mara (cox).
Everett’s boys lightweight eight plus coxswain finished sixth in the C final of its division. Everett was placed in the C final after placing 18th in the time trials.
Everett’s team consisted of Alex Barrett, Jack Nemiroff, Jack McManis, Ethan Senn, Stephen Bjorkquist, Justin Dehart, Tyler Norby, Leo Kohorst and Summer Keyes (cox).
If you have an idea for a community sports story, e-mail Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
