Busy Friday of track & field in Southern California and Texas...

Highlights from a very busy day of track and field action around the greater Los Angeles area for many of the state’s Division I, II and post-collegiate athletes:

MT. SAC

At the second full day of competition at the Mt. SAC Relays at its temporary home on the campus of El Camino College in Torrance, Washington’s Colby Gilbert (left/photo by Paul Merca) finished third in the men’s invitational 5000 meter run in his outdoor season debut.

Gilbert ran 13:38.68, as Tulsa’s Marc Scott won in a time of 13:37.45, and Jack Bruce of Arkansas took second in 13:38.15.

Pending the outcome of other meets throughout the country, Gilbert’s mark is the fourth fastest time in the collegiate ranks this season.

In the women’s 5000, Jessica Tonn of the Brooks Beasts, who completed a high altitude training stint in Albuquerque, finished second in a time of 15:38.46 behind You Fukuda of Japan, who won going away in 15:23.48, currently the second fastest time in the world so far this season.

In the same race, Washington alum Mel Lawrence ran 15:40.26 for fourth, while Western Washington alum Sarah Crouch was 16th in 16:03.97, just ahead of her sister Shannon Porter, who crossed in 16:04.25.

The Washington women’s 4 x 100 relay won the open section in a time of 45.34, the fourth fastest time in school history.

The Huskies’ Hannah Derby won her heat of the 800 in 2:07.13, while teammate Darhian Mills finished second overall in the open 400 hurdles in 58.89.

On the field, Washington State’s Kiana Davis won the open high jump with a best of 5-8 (1.73m). In the B section of the open pole vault, WSU’s Molly Scharmann was second at 12-5.5 (3.80m), while Eastern Washington’s Erin Clark and Elizabeth Prouty were fourth and sixth, respectively, with both clearing 12-5.5 (3.80m).

In the A section of the open women’s pole vault, former Pac-12 champ Kristine Felix of WSU tied for third at 12-9.5 (3.90m).

Results from the Friday session at the Mt. SAC Relays are available here.

BRYAN CLAY INVITATIONAL

In Azusa, Western Washington’s Bethany Drake won the women’s javelin competition at the Bryan Clay Invitational, hosted by Azusa Pacific University.

Drake, a former NCAA D2 champion in this event, threw an NCAA Division II automatic qualifying mark of 162-4 (49.48m). The mark is the second best mark in Division II this season.

The Vikings’ Jasmine McMullin won the women’s triple jump with a mark of 40-3.25 (12.27m).

Results from the Bryan Clay Invitational are available here.

BEACH INVITATIONAL

In Long Beach, Washington State’s Brock Eager threw 214-11 (65.51m) to finish fifth overall and third scoring collegian in the men’s hammer at the first day of competition at the Beach Invitational, hosted by Long Beach State University.

Washington’s Onyie Chibuogwu threw a school record 198-11 (60.62m) to finish ninth overall and third collegian.

Results from the Beach Invitational are available here.

TEXAS INVITATIONAL

In Austin, Vancouver native Kara Winger (left/photo by Paul Merca) threw 212-7 (64.80m) to win the javelin competition at the Texas Invitational, hosted by the University of Texas.

Winger started fast, throwing the winning mark on her first attempt and never looked back.

That mark surpassed the qualifying standard of 201-5 (61.40m) needed for this summer’s IAAF world track & field championships in London, and is currently the fourth best mark in the world this season.

Results from the Texas Invitational are available here.

NOTE:  The sports information offices of Mt. SAC, Azusa Pacific, Long Beach State, and the University of Texas contributed to this report.