WWU Vikings dominate at Vernacchia Invitational....

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Emily Warman (Fr., Sedro-Woolley), Heidi Dimmitt (Sr., Wenatchee) and Sarah Porter (So., Hockinson) all reached NCAA Division II national provisional qualifying standards in winning their events, highlighting Western Washington University performances as the Viking men and women each defended their championships in the 28th annual Ralph Vernacchia Invitational Track And Field Team Meet on Friday at Civic Stadium.

Host Western claimed its 12th consecutive men's title and fourth straight women's crown. The men were not threatened to any significant degree in the 13-team meet, having 116 points to 85 for runner-up Concordia OR; and the women led wire-to-wire but had to hold off a late challenge from Concordia before winning by 6.5 points, 101-1/2 to 95.

Warman, who was the NCAA II indoor national champion in the women's triple jump last month, had a mark of 38-8 3/4 in that event, going 10 inches past the provisional qualifying standard. She also won the long jump in 18-4 1/4, only an inch short of the provisional standard.

Dimmitt won the women's 400-meter hurdles in 1:02.25, and Porter, running the 1,500 for the first time this season, was victorious in 4:36.24.

In all, the Viking women won eight events, with Ellie Siler (Fr., Spokane/Lewis & Clark) having a hand in three of those victories. Siler won the 200 in 25.79 and the 400 in a season-best 56.93, and teamed with Dimmitt, Megan Zukowski (So., Maple Valley/Tahoma) and Joana Houplin (So., Olympia) to win the 4x100 relay in 48.46.

The other victory by the Western women came from Michelle Howe (So., Arlington/Lakewood) in the 100 hurdles (15.19),

The Western men had three event winners. Anthony Tomsich (Jr., Fairbanks, AK/West Valley), running the 800 for the first time this season, was victorious in 1:54.63; Will Davis (Fr., Spokane/Central Valley), in his first collegiate competition, won the triple jump with a mark of 46-3 1/4, the best this year in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference; and Ryan Brown (So., Bellingham/Squalicum) who shared victory in the high jump, clearing 6-3/4. Brown was also second in the pole vault, clearing 14-11.

A meet record was set in the men's 10,000 as Sean Sundwall of Club Northwest was clocked in 30:57.

The Vikings remained undefeated for both the men and women in four team scored events this season.

Western next competes on Saturday, April 18, at the Central Washington University Invitational, while over 20 athletes participate in the Mt. SAC Relays on Thursday and Friday.

Complete results can be viewed here...

NOTE: The sports information office at Western Washington University contributed to this report.

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