Trent Arrivey wins NCAA West Regionals in high jump

Washington State University sophomore Trent Arrivey (above/photo courtesy WSU Sports Information) from Woodinville won the men's high jump with a personal-record height of 7-feet, 3 inches during Friday's first day of the NCAA West Regional Track & Field Championships held at Matador Stadium on the California State University at Northridge campus.

Arrivey (pronounced air-eh-vee), cleared 7-3 1/4 (2.22m) on his third and final attempt and then watched as USC's Manjula Wijesekara missed on his final attempt at that height. Arrivey made three attempts at 7-5 (2.26m), and was close on the third attempt but was happy to end the day with the West Region title, a PR, the sixth-best high jump in WSU history and a trip to the NCAA Championships.

Arrivey, who celebrated his 20th birthday Thursday, commenting on his day said, "I no-heighted at this meet last year so today was a good day to redeem myself. Ever since the dual meet against Washington (May 3), when I barely missed at 7-4 1/2 I just knew I something more in there. I felt good at the end of the event but I felt bad in warm-ups and don't think I even made a bar in warm-ups."

In addition to qualifying for the NCAA meet, Arrivey's mark earns him a provisional qualifying mark for the US Olympic Trials at the end of June in Eugene, Oregon.

McKenzie Garberg, a senior from Benton City, Wash., started the day with a fourth-place finish in the women's hammer throw with a toss of 200-9 (61.18m) and then went on to take fourth place in the discus with a toss of 173-8 (52.93m). She is the WSU record-holder in the hammer with a toss of 204-9 (62.42m) thrown earlier this season, and a 2007 All-American in the discus.

Jon Jeffreys will make a return trip to the NCAA Championships after he finished fourth in the men's javelin. The senior from Spokane Valley, Wash., threw a distance of 220-9 (67.28m).

University of Washington senior Norris Frederick, the Roosevelt High grad, will be on his way to Des Moines, as he took second in the long jump with a mark of 25-2 ½. The seven-time All-American has now qualified for NCAA Outdoors all four years of his career.

Frederick also finished sixth in the high jump, but almost assuredly will receive an at-large bid due to his No. 5 national ranking, and the fact that he finished top-12 in the region. Frederick cleared 6-11, tying for fourth-best, but was sixth due to missed attempts.

The NCAA West Regionals continues Saturday on the campus of Cal State Northridge.

NOTE: The sports information offices of Cal State Northridge, the University of Washington, and Washington State University all contributed to this report.