Cougar women clock second fastest DMR time in school history...

SEATTLE--The Washington State women's distance medley squad of Courtney Zalud, Shawna Fermin, Anna Layman & Ruby Roberts (left/photo by Paul Merca) placed second behind the University of Oregon, as the Cougs clocked the second fastest time in school history in 11:18.14 to highlight a strong performance at day one of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championships at the Dempsey Indoor facility on the UW campus.

A strong 800 meter leg by Cougar senior Anna Layman kept the Cougars in contention with Oregon's Becca Friday from Bellingham, before Zoe Buckman pulled away from Roberts on the anchor leg, and taking home the victory in 11:09.75, just off the meet record of 11:08.56 set by Stanford in 2008.

The Cougars' Stephan Scott-Ellis from Tacoma placed second behind Oregon's Vernell Warren in the long jump with a mark of 24-3 3/4 (7.41m), as Warren, the MPSF leader going into the championships won with a leap of 24-6.5 (7.48m).

For the Washington Huskies who were missing reigning MPSF and NCAA pole vault champion Scott Roth with a sore hamstring suffered two weeks ago, Ryan Vu's second place finish in the pole vault was the Dawgs' highest placing of the day, as he cleared 16-9.5 (5.12m) to finish behind UCLA's Greg Woepse.

Woepse's third attempt clearance at 17-3.5 (5.27m) snatched victory away from the grasp of Vu, who was in command for most of the competition.

Washington's distance medley relay teams both finished fourth, as the men ran 9:38.25, and the women's squad ran 11:20.85.

2009 All-American Elisa Bryant from the UW finished fourth in the 20-pound weight throw, throwing 58-6.5 (17.84m), as UCLA frosh Ida Storm threw a Swedish national record of 67-11 (20.70m).

In the women's 5000, Washington's Phoebe Merritt (16:34.50) and Lindsay Flanagan (16:36.20) finished 4th and 5th, respectively in a race won by Arizona's Hannah Moen.
Sequim native Stephanie Marcy of Stanford was third in 16:16.91.

Other highlights:

--The University of Oregon's distance medley relay squad of Mac Fleet, Rainier Beach HS grad Michael Berry, Elijah Greer, and Matthew Centrowitz set a meet record of 9:26.78, the second fastest collegiate time ever run, behind only the University of Texas, who ran 9:25.97 in 2008;

--Cal State Northridge's Sherrina Lofton used a 2:18.35 800 to win the pentathlon and garner an automatic bid into the NCAA championships in two weeks, scoring 4092 points, currently the sixth best mark in Division I;

--Cal's Michael Morrison leads the heptathlon after four events with a score of 3157 points, 114 ahead of Oregon freshman Dakotah Keys, a prep All-American. Washington senior Andrew Ferleman (2995) and Husky frosh Kale Schmidt (2934) stand fifth and sixth;

--Stanford's Miles Unterreiner from Gig Harbor won an exciting 5000m race over Arizona's Mohamud Ige 13:48.13 to 13:48.15.

After day 1, Arizona State leads the women's competition with 54 points, as pre meet favorite Oregon stands third at 32. Washington is in a tie for sixth with 17 points, and Washington State is ninth at 13 points.

In the men's competition, Stanford leads with 40 1/2 points. Washington and Washington State are sixth and seventh at 19, and 16 points each.

The MPSF championships resume Saturday beginning at 11 am.

Day 1 results are available here.

The UW news release is available here, while the WSU release can be read here.

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