Hannah Derby proves Pac-12 Network's Tom Feuer right with breakout 2:04.79 at OSU Hi-Performance...

CORVALLIS, Oregon—Six days ago on the Pac-12 Network telecast of the Washington/Washington State dual meet, analyst Tom Feuer declared that the Huskies’ Hannah Derby (left/photo by Paul Merca) was the breakout star of the meet after her near-personal best of 2:07.89 to win the 800 in essentially a solo effort under less than ideal conditions.

While she may have a bit of a gap behind the two dominant 800 meter runners in the conference (and for that matter, the nation in Oregon’s Raevyn Rogers and Stanford’s Olivia Baker), the sophomore from Gig Harbor via Bellarmine Prep HS proved Feuer right and at the same time, served notice to the country that she will be one to reckon with come conference, regionals and possibly at nationals, as she won her section of the 800 at the Oregon State University High Performance meet Saturday at the Whyte Track & Field Center.

Derby dropped her personal best from 2:07.13 set two weeks ago at the Mt. SAC Relays down to 2:04.79, the fourth fastest time of the day, and the fastest among collegians in the field.

Other highlights from the meet:

—Washington State alum Jeshua Anderson won both the 110 and 400 hurdles in his outdoor season debut, running 14.13, and 50.04.  In the former race, Washington’s Eric Simpson was third in 14.47, and in the latter, Josh Gordon of the Huskies was third in a big PR of 52.87;

—Gordon also won the long jump with a best of 23-8 (7.22m), while Trenton Osborn (23-5/7.14m) and Keshun McGee (23-2.5/7.07m) of Eastern Washington went 2-3;

—Washington’s Darhian Mills and Carly Lester went 1-3 in the 400 hurdles, running 58.84 and 60.66; 

—Scott Miller of Eastern Washington won the discus with a toss of 178-3 (54.33m);

—The Huskies’ Jack Lembcke, who is being redshirted for the outdoor season, finished second in the shot put with a throw of 57-6.75 (17.55m) behind David Pless’ 63-9.5 (19.45m); 

—UW’s Gina Flint was second in the women’s shot with a best of 49-4.75 (15.06m); 

—Rebecca Tarbert of Eastern Washington was second in the 100 in 12.08;

—Saint Martin’s Mikel Smith, the reigning NCAA D2 indoor and outdoor high jump champ, was second with a jump of 6-8.25 (2.04m).


In Philadelphia, Seattle resident Cas Loxsom led Team USA Blue to a second place finish in the sprint medley relay (200-200-400-800), as his squad ran 3:13.12, behind Team USA Red, which won in a field and Penn Relays record 3:11.45 at the USA vs. the World at the Penn Relays at Franklin Field Saturday.

Rainier Beach HS grad Michael Berry ran the leadoff leg for the USA in the mens’ 4 x 400 relay that finished second to Jamaica.

Jamaica’s winning time was 3:03.14, while Team USA ran 3:03.25.


In Pullman, Washington State’s Brock Eager tightened his grip on the Pac-12 conference lead in the hammer throw at the Cougar Invitational Saturday at Mooberry Track.

Eager threw a personal best of 225-3 (68.66m), the fourth best mark in school history, as the Cougs took the first five spots in the event.

Kiana Davis and Greer Alsop of the Cougs went 1-2 in the triple jump, with Davis jumping 42-6.75 12.97m), less than an inch behind current conference leader Ashley Anderson of Cal’s 42-7.5 (12.99m).

Alsop went 41-8 (12.70m), which is currently fifth in the Pac-12.

Davis’ mark is second best in school history, while Alsop’s is fourth in WSU history.


In Bellingham, Western Washington alum and 2016 US Olympic Trials qualifier Katie Reichert won the javelin with a toss of 176-6 (53.80m) to highlight the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational at Civic Stadium, hosted by Western Washington University.

Current Viking Bethany Drake was second with a toss of 166-5 (50.72m), which is an auto qualifier for the NCAA D2 championships.


NOTE:  Oregon State University, Western Washington University, Washington State University, USA Track & Field, and the University of Washington contributed to this report.

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