NAMPA, Idaho – Freshman Seren Dances placed 8th to lead a trio of Vikings competing at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Combined Event Championships, held Monday and Tuesday at Northwest Nazarene University’s Brian & Nichole Bohner Track.

Dances (Port Townsend, WA) was the top WWU placer with 6,071 points, claiming the final scoring place to earn one team point toward the WWU men’s track & field team score at GNAC Outdoor Championships. Sophomore Nick Makrakis (Concord, CA/Northgate) finished 11th with a personal-best score of 5,761 points while junior Rudy Mataya (Burlington, WA/Burlington-Edison) totaled 3,121 points during day one of the championships before an injury kept him from competing during the second day of events.

The first day of competition for Dances was highlighted by a 1st-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 7.10m (23-3 ½), a personal-best mark ranking 6th on the WWU outdoor top-10 list. He finished 3rd in the high jump (1.86m/6-1 ¼) and placed 5th in the 100m with a time of 11.38 (non wind-aided personal best), along with finishing 12th in the shot put (10.39m/34-1 ¼) and 9th in the 400m (53.41) to rank in 4th place at the conclusion of Monday’s competition.

During the second day of events for Dances, who was competing in the third decathlon of his freshman campaign, were personal-best marks in the 110m hurdles (15.99 – 5th) and pole vault (3.45m/11-3 ¾). He finished 12th in the discus (30.60m/100-5), 12th in the javelin (39.34m/129-1) and 12th in the 1,500m (5:12.37).
Makrakis improved marks in seven events from his first decathlon at the University of British Columbia Open earlier in the season. His best finish during the first day of competition was 2nd place in the high jump with a height of 1.89m (6-2 ¼). He also recorded a personal-best in the shot put (11.07m/36-4 – 7th), along with placing 5th in the long jump (6.63m/21-9), 14th in the 100m (11.90) and 11th in the 400m (54.50) during day one.

His best finish during day two was 6th in the discus (34.23m/112-4) to go along with personal-best marks in the pole vault 3.35m (10-11 ¾ – 10th) and javelin (42.56m/139-7 – 10th). Makrakis was 10th in the 110m hurdles (16.78) and concluded the decathlon placing 14th in the 1,500m with a time of 5:35.47.
Mataya improved marks in four events during day one from his first decathlon at the UBC Open. His top finish was 6th in the 100m (11.40), with personal-bests in the high jump (1.71m/5-7 ¼ – 12th) and 400m (53.72 – 10th). He was also 9th in the long jump (6.43m/21-1 ¼).