Freshman Aaron Pullin wins Candy Cane heptathlon with second best score in EWU history...

CHENEY—Eastern Washington freshman Aaron Pullin (above/photo courtesy EWU Athletics) won the heptathlon at the Candy Cane Invitational at Jim Thorpe Fieldhouse on the campus of Eastern Washington University with the second best score in school history, compiling a final two day total of 4965 points to easily meet the qualifying standard of 4700 points for the Big Sky Conference indoor championships.

In the dual meet competition between the Eagles and Montana, the two teams split, with Montana winning the men’s meet 55-44, and Eastern winning the women’s competition by a 55-44 count.

Pullin, a graduate of Centralia HS who finished ninth in the decathlon at the USA junior championships in Eugene last summer, won the 55 hurdles in a time of 8.16 (793 points), as well as the pole vault, clearing 13-9.25/4.20m (673), and finished the day by running 2:57.67 in the 1000 for 687 points.

Aaron Cunningham of Eastern was a double winner in the weight & shot, throwing 51-0.75 (15.56m) in the weight, and 50-2 (15.29m) in the shot.

The throws also provided the Eagles with a double winner, with Kaytlyn Coleman winning both the weight and shot, throwing 47-3.5 (14.41m) in the shot, and 59-11 (18.26m) in the weight.  

Coleman earned qualifying marks for the Big Sky indoor meet with her wins

Though not a qualifying event, Katie Mahoney set a school record in the 600 meter run, winning in a time of 1:39.83, breaking the previous school & facility record of 1:40.57 set by teammate Janessa Day last year.

Mahoney later teamed with Berenice Penaloza, Johanna Sherman and Paula Gil-Echevarria to win the 4 x 800m relay in 9:39.28.  The Eagle men’s squad of Logan Stahl, Steven Bachman, Stephen Bottoms, and Dallas Snider won the men’s 4 x 800 in 8:14.06.

Eastern’s recap is available here, while the results of the Candy Cane Invitational is available here.

NOTE:  The sports information office at Eastern Washington University contributed to this report.