Dawgs qualify pairs in pole vault, javelin & 10000, while Eagles' Murillo surprises again...

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas--For the Huskies, it came in pairs, while Eastern Washington's Emma Murillo (above/photo courtesy Eastern Washington University) continued her fast ascent by earning a trip to Eugene for the NCAA track & field championships at the West Regional Preliminary Round at John McDonnell Track on the University of Arkansas campus.

Murillo, who shocked the field at the Big Sky Conference meet two weeks ago by winning the conference title with a 20-foot PR toss of 158-2 (48.20m), answered the doubters with the second best toss of her career, launching the spear 156-11 (47.82m) in the second round and watched it hold up as the tenth best throw of the day, punching her ticket to Eugene.

In the men's pole vault, Pac-12 champ Jax Thoirs of the University of Washington was one of seven competitors to clear 17-7 (5.36m) to clinch a spot to the national finals.  UW teammate JJ Juilfs tied for 20th with a best of 16-9 1/4 (5.11m).

Fellow Pac-12 pole vault champ Diamara Planell Cruz only needed three jumps to advance to Eugene, clearing a best of 13-7 (4.14m), while Washington State's Kristine Felix and Washington's Kristina Owsinski each cleared 13-3 (4.04m), but were left on the outside looking in, because neither cleared the height on their first attempt.

The Huskies' Liz Quick finished 21st at 12-9 (3.89m), while Washington's Ashley Schnapp and Eastern Washington's Courtney Bray tied for 36th at 12-3 1/4 (3.74m).

In the men's javelin, Washington's Quinn Hale had the fourth best toss of the day, throwing 223-4 (68.09m),  while teammate Carson Fuller used a sixth round throw of 219-3 (66.84m) to finish eighth.  Fuller's throw pushed fellow Husky Curtis Clauson down to a non-qualifying13th, as he was sitting in 12th at the time with a best of 213-4 (65.02m).  

Tahoma HS grad Derek Eager of UCLA finished 14th with a best of 211-7 (64.51m), while Seattle University's lone competitor, WAC champ Dylan Burnett was 18th at 206-8 (62.99m).

Washington State's Kyle Stevens was 30th at 199-5 (60.79m), while Eastern Washington's Joey Payne was 47th at 175-4 (53.45m).

Eight-time All American Megan Goethals, who was sick two weeks ago at the Pac-12s in Pullman, finished seventh in the 10000 in 34:17.29, with fifth-year senior teammate Lindsay Flanagan tenth in 34:18.25, as both comfortably earned their spots to the national championship meet.

In first round qualifying, Washington's Nick Harris ran 3:42.84,  the fastest time of the day in the first round of the men's 1500.

Rainier Beach HS grad Michael Berry of the University of Oregon had the fourth fastest time in the men's 400, as he ran 45.88.

Washington's Katie Flood (4:21.66) and Eleanor Fulton (4:21.91) ran the third and fifth fastest times of the day in the women's 1500.

In the men's 800, Jesse Jorgensen of Washington State (1:48.86) and Derrick Daigre of the Huskies (1:49.18) had the fourth and fifth fastest times of the day.

The women's 400 hurdles saw Washington's Gianna Woodruff finish with the 10th fastest time of the day at 58.44.


NOTE:  The sports information offices at Eastern Washington University, the University of Washington, and Washington State University contributed to this report.

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