Completed Event: Track and Field at NAU Tune Up on February 20, 2026 ,
Track & Field
at NAU Tune Up
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Nathan Peters
Lopes make history with No. 2 ranking in West Region
1/25/2024 12:34:00 PM | Track and Field
GCU earns highest DI spot; top times led by Brown, Lemaitre, 1,600-meter relay
Grand Canyon track and field made history Thursday when the men's team landed at a program-best No. 2 in the West Region indoor rankings by the U.S Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Previously, GCU's best initial ranking was No. 5 during the 2022 indoor season.
"We are off to a great start," Lopes head coach Tom Flood said. "This is our highest regional ranking in our D-I history."
The Lopes come in at second behind only USC with Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Stanford and Arizona State all trailing GCU.
The early-season performances that led the way for GCU came from senior Erin Brown's school record of 20.79 seconds in the 200-meter dash, sophomore Germain Lemaitre's school record in the 800 and the 4x400 relay.
Brown's 200 time ranks second in the region, while Lemaitre's 800 time of 1:49.15 leads the region and is sixth in the NCAA.
The relay was made up of sophomore Ben Stratman, junior Daviciea McCartney, graduate James Smith II and Brown. The team went 3:07.94 with altitude adjustment. This time ranks as the ninth best in the country and third in the region.
"We will keep practicing hard and continue to get better," Flood said.
The Lopes look to build off these performances Friday and Saturday at the UNM Team Open in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Previously, GCU's best initial ranking was No. 5 during the 2022 indoor season.
"We are off to a great start," Lopes head coach Tom Flood said. "This is our highest regional ranking in our D-I history."
The Lopes come in at second behind only USC with Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Stanford and Arizona State all trailing GCU.
The early-season performances that led the way for GCU came from senior Erin Brown's school record of 20.79 seconds in the 200-meter dash, sophomore Germain Lemaitre's school record in the 800 and the 4x400 relay.
Brown's 200 time ranks second in the region, while Lemaitre's 800 time of 1:49.15 leads the region and is sixth in the NCAA.
The relay was made up of sophomore Ben Stratman, junior Daviciea McCartney, graduate James Smith II and Brown. The team went 3:07.94 with altitude adjustment. This time ranks as the ninth best in the country and third in the region.
"We will keep practicing hard and continue to get better," Flood said.
The Lopes look to build off these performances Friday and Saturday at the UNM Team Open in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
‼️History for the Lopes‼️
— GCU Track & Field + Cross Country (@GCU_TrackXC) January 25, 2024
In the first rankings of the season, GCU comes in at number 2 in the West Region, the highest ever in the D1 era! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/Q8sTLgjnEe
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