Western Washington men first, women second after day 1 of GNAC indoor championships...

NAMPA, Idaho--After Friday's first day of competition, the Western Washington men lead the way, while the women's squad sits in second at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor championship meet at the Ford Idaho Center.

The Vikings got big points thanks to 1-2 finishes in the high jump from Brett Watson  and Logan Myers, each clearing 6-8 3/4 (2.05m); Jacob Gilbert  (52-10.75/16.12m) and Frank Catelli in the shot put (52-0/15.85m), and Kevin Yates (22-10.5/6.97m) and Watson (22-6.5/6.87m) in the long jump.

On the women's side, Tanya Bjornsson (left/photo courtesy WWU Athletics) scored a personal best of 19-1.25 (5.82m), and 1.5 inches short of the school record, defeating Seattle Pacific's Kyra Brannan, who jumped 18-3.75 (5.58m).  Bjornsson also was the top qualifier in the 60-meter hurdles (8.86) and tied for fourth among qualifiers in the 60 (7.98). She won both those events last year.

In the pentathlon, Central Washington's Tayler Fettig finished second overall with a score of 3311 points, while the Seattle Pacific trio of Maddie Hommes (3136), Ali Sowers (2983), and Cheryl Hong (2832) went 3-6-8, as all three frosh completed their first ever multi-event competition.

Western's Katie Reichert was fourth with a score of 3063, while teammate Emily Stralser was seventh with 2861 points.

After four events in the heptathlon, Central Washington's Justin Peterson (2577) and Andrew Venema (2469) are second and third, while Western's Michael Stralser is fourth at 2398.

The Vikings' Cheyenna Pinley placed second in the women's pole vault, clearing 12-1/2 (3.67m), and the men's distance medley relay was runner-up with a 10:07.79 clocking.

Western's Katelyn Steen finished third in the 5000 in 17:56.88, while SPU's Anna Patti was one spot behind in 18:06.77.

The GNAC championship meet concludes Saturday with twelve men's events, and eleven women's events.

Results from the GNAC championships are available here.

NOTE:  The Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and the sports information offices of Central Washington, Seattle Pacific and Western Washington contributed to this report.