Amy-Eloise Neale and David Elliott overall winners of 5000m at Stanford Invite...
PALO ALTO, California—Washington’s Amy-Eloise Neale (left/photo by Paul Merca) along with Puyallup native David Elliott took home victories in the fast section of the 5000 meters to highlight competition at the first day of the Stanford Invitational, which concluded very late Friday night.
Neale, the graduate of Snohomish’s Glacier Peak HS, used the same tactic she employed to win the Pac-12 and NCAA regional cross country titles, storming late in the race to overtake none other than reigning NCAA cross country and indoor 5000m champion Karissa Schweizer, to win in a time of 15:39.30.
The mark, which is currently the second fastest collegiate time this season (pending the outcome of other meets around the country this weekend), puts her at #3 on the Washington all-time list. Not bad for a debut at that distance on the track.
“I knew everyone around me was really good so I just tried to relax and hang on for the first two miles, and then I felt pretty good, so I made a move to…get out of the mess there. I felt good and just tried to use my instincts,” Neale said on the Flotrack web cast.
Elliott, the Puyallup native and Boise State grad, won the top section of the men’s 5000, running 13:36.68 to hold off Jefferson Abbey of Colorado State (13:37.23) and Oregon alum Parker Stinson (13:38.07). In that same section, Spokane native Nathan Weitz of Northern Arizona finished seventh in 13:56.80.
Washington freshman Angel Nkwonta won her section of the women’s shot put with a toss of 44-6 (13.56m) over Central Washington’s Aiyana Homer (42-0/12.80m).
Western Washington’s Bethany Drake was fifth in the invitational javelin, as the 2014 NCAA champ threw 151-11 (46.30m), currently the #2 mark in NCAA D2 this season.
Ali Anderson of Central Washington set a school record in finishing second in her section of the women’s 400 hurdles in 61.73. Her mark was good enough for third overall.
Action continues Saturday at the Stanford Invitational. The results page can be found here.
In Austin, Texas, Washington’s Casey Burns won the B section of the men’s triple jump with a personal best of 51-10.5 (15.81m) on his first attempt of the day to highlight competition at the Texas Relays.
In between that mark, which is the second best in school history, he had two jumps in the 48-foot range, and two fouls before ending the day with a windy 51-6.5 (15.71m).
Eastern Washington’s Keshun McGee was ninth in the section with a best of 48-11 (14.91m).
The Huskies’ Kennadi Bouyer advanced to Saturday’s finals in the women’s 100, running a wind-aided 11.49.
The Texas Relays concludes Saturday. The results page can be found here.
In Los Angeles, Gonzaga’s Troy Fraley broke his own men’s 3000m steeplechase school record, running 8:45.14 in finishing second to UCLA’s Austin O’Neil at the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival Friday held in conjunction with the UCLA Legends meet at Drake Stadium.
Jessica Mildes of the Zags won the women’s 5000 in 16:25.08.
Washington State’s Brock Eager continued his winning ways in the men’s invitational hammer, taking the title with a toss of 212-3 (64.70m).
The UCLA Legends meet continues Saturday. The live results page can be found here.
In San Francisco, WSU assistant coach Allix Potratz-Lee won the women’s 3000m steeplechase in 10:17.27, while Cougar senior Emily Dwyer won her section of that event in 10:31.50, good for fourth overall at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival Friday.
NOTE: The sports information offices of Texas, Stanford, UCLA, San Francisco State, Washington, Washington State, Western Washington, Central Washington, Gonzaga, and Eastern Washington contributed to this report.
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