Links to begin another busy weekend of track & field...
Some links to check out as we begin a busy weekend of track & field:
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| Alissa Brooks-Johnson of WSU was second in the Pac-12 heptathlon last year (Paul Merca photo) |
In Spokane, the Eastern Washington men’s and women’s track team competed Wednesday night at the Sasquatch Carnival hosted by Spokane Falls CC.
The Eagles added one new qualifier for next week’s Big Sky Championship in Cheney, as Kelcie Forcier attained the qualifying mark by throwing the hammer 181-6 (55.33m) to finish fourth, behind teammates Olivia Midles (187-4/57.10m), Emma Murillo (182-3/55.56m), and Kaytlyn Coleman (181-9/55.40m).
The hammer also provided the best men’s mark as Washington State freshman Brock Eager, who competed unattached, won with a personal best toss of 190-5 (58.05m).
The big meet in the collegiate ranks this weekend is the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship meet in Monmouth, Oregon, as all four Washington schools—Seattle Pacific, Western Washington, Central Washington and Saint Martin’s are in action.
On the women’s side, two time defending GNAC champ Alaska-Anchorage is a slight favorite to repeat over six-time champ Seattle Pacific.
The Seawolves are also favored to win the men’s competition with Western Washington, with Central Washington in the hunt.
Former champions from the four Washington schools entered in the meet include Western’s Ryan Macdonald (discus), Saint Martin’s Joseph Keeton (pole vault—2013), and Central’s Luke Plummer (triple jump) and Kevin Stanley (hammer).
In the women’s competition, Katelyn Steen of Western Washington is the defending GNAC champ in both the steeplechase and the 5000, and she will be joined by teammate and defending javelin champ Katie Reichert. Steen set the GNAC conference record in the steeple, running 10:13.01 at Mt. SAC, while Reichert currently ranks #3 in NCAA Division II in the javelin with a best of 165-7 (50.48m) set at the Beach Invitational.
The Pac-12 track & field championships get underway Saturday and Sunday at Drake Stadium on the UCLA campus with the multi-event competition.
Washington State will send Alissa Brooks-Johnson, who finished second in last year’s heptathlon, while converted 800 meter runner CJ Smith is the Huskies’ lone representative.
Brooks-Johnson does not have a score this season, but is among the conference's top 16 in the 100 and 400 hurdles, and the javelin
In the decathlon, Washington sends Nick Pfeiffer, Cole Jensen, and Carson Murray, while Washington State’s lone representative is Dino Dodig.
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