Fall training block ends for Husky track team with Purple/Gold intrasquad meet...

Javelin thrower Ally Mueller
of the winning Gold team
in the All x 307 relay
(Paul Merca photo)

SEATTLE--The fall training block for the University of Washington track & field team concluded with the annual Purple vs Gold intrasquad track meet Thursday night at the Dempsey Indoor.

For freshmen Daje Pugh and Chris Williams, it was a stirring debut, as two of the Huskies' most heralded recruits turned in victories.

Pugh, the California CIF champ in the 300 hurdles, won the 60 hurdles for the Purple squad in a time of 8.82 seconds, a time that would've been the fastest on last year's UW squad, beating out the Gold's Naivasha Sophusson Smith (9.02), the Dawgs' top hurdler indoors last year.

Williams, one of the country's top hurdlers and pole vaulters from Pennsylvania, soundly won the 60 hurdles for the Purple squad in a time of 8.08, a time that easily would've been tops on the Husky team last season.

NCAA scorer and Olympic Trials qualifier Logan Miller won the women's vault with a clearance of 12-11 1/2 (3.95m).

Williams also tied for first in the men's pole vault with reigning Pac-12 champ JJ Juilifs in the Purple/Gold competition, though Washington alum Scott Roth, who finished third at the 2012 US Olympic Trials was the overall winner.

Issaquah standout Haley Jacobson broke the meet record in the 88 meter dash (length of the Dempsey straightaway), running 10.90.

Pac 12 200 meter champ James Alaka of the Purple and the Gold's Maurice McNeal had two spirited battles in the 88 and 300 dashes, with Alaka winning the short race in 9.63 to 9.67, while McNeal turned the tables on the British national, winning the 300 in 34.06, with Alaka finishing fifth overall in the two-section event, running 35.72.

Jordan Carlson of the Purple squad, a member of Washington's national championship distance medley relay team, won the women's 300 in a time of 39.43 in the three-section final.

The Gold's Jaleecia Roland won both the high jump (5-5/1.65m) and the shot put (42-0 1/2/12.81m).

The Gold's Julian Bardwell was a double winner, taking both the long and triple jumps (22-4 1/2 6.82m and 43-5 1/4 13.24m), jumping off short approaches.

In the mystery event, which turned out to be a circuit relay race involving the sprint squads, the Purple won 340-325 over the Gold in six different events, which included pit burpees, a sled pull with a 10 kilo weight, thrusters throwing a 8-pound medicine ball against the wall for a minute; a battle rope slam; and, a one-minute backward run.

The night's final event, the All x 307m relay race involving runners, jumpers, and throwers, was won by the Gold team, anchored by senior Jeremy Taiwo.  

Taiwo, the 2011 Pac-10 decathlon champ who did not compete last year, also finished in a tie for second in the high jump (6-4 3/4, 1.95m) and won the shot put (46-8 1/4, 14.23m).

For the Huskies, their attention turns to the fall term finals before heading home for the holidays.  The Dawgs open the 2013 season on January 12th with the Husky Preview meet at the Dempsey.