Track & Field | 4/16/2012 4:02:00 PM

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Dan Sprinkle didn't let the cold air, the water or the darkness deter him on Friday night at the John Knight Twilight, as the senior from Hillsboro, Ore. (Hillsboro HS) registered career-best time of 9:07.5 in the men's 3,000m steeplechase. That time not only gave him an NCAA provisional qualifying standard, it also earned Sprinkle the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Male Athlete of the Week honor.

In addition to winning the 3k steeple on his home track, Sprinkle also moved into third place in the Western Oregon record books and to sixth place in GNAC history. His time of 9:07.5 ranks the 11th fastest in Division II this year.

This week the Western Oregon track & field team will travel to southern California to compete in the Mt. SAC, Bryan Clay and Long Beach State Invites starting on Friday, Apr. 20.