Eagles' Erin Clark wins Big Sky pole vault crown...

Day 1 of the Great Northwest, Western Athletic and the Big Sky Conference championships are in the books, and here’s a recap of what happened:

BIG SKY CONFERENCE (Sacramento, California)

Eastern Washington senior Erin Clark (left/photo courtesy Eastern Washington University) moved up one spot from her runner-up position in last year’s Big Sky Conference championship to capture her first conference crown in the pole vault Friday, clearing a personal best 13-0.75 (3.96m).

After clearing the first two heights on her first attempt, she cleared 12-6.75 (3.83m) on her second , and 12-10.75 (3.93m) on her first attempt, as Sacramento State’s Danielle Brandon was pushing her.

Both Clark and Brandon cleared the eventual winning height of 13-0.75 (3.98m) on their third attempts, before missing all three attempts at 13-2.5 (4.03m), with Clark winning the title based on her first attempt make at 12-10.75 (3.93m).

Javelin thrower Samantha Baker earned a second place finish in her specialty, throwing 144-8 (44.09m), as Whitney Fowers of Weber State won with a distance of 154-7 (47.11m).

After eight events in the women’s competition, the Eagles are in fourth place with 32 points.

In the mens’ competition, it was a slight disappointment in the men’s long jump for Eastern Washington, as Trenton Osborn (23-8.25/7.22m) and Keshun McGee (23-6/7.16m), who were expected to contend for the top three spots, only placed sixth and seventh.  

The Eagles’ only other point Friday was in the 3000 steeplechase, as Steaven Zachman was eighth in 9:23.60.

Eastern stands in tenth with 6 points.

The link to results is available here.

GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (Monmouth, Oregon)

The Wildcats of Central Washington are the surprise early leaders in the women’s competition at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship Friday on the campus of Western Oregon University.

Central is five points ahead of second place Alaska Anchorage with 52 points, while favored Seattle Pacific is in a tie for third with 46 points, and Western Washington is fifth at 45.

The Wildcats got a 1-2 finish in the 10000m from Alexa Shindruk (35:58.99) and Stephanie Rexus (36:42.87).  They also got a first place finish in the pole vault, as McKenna Emmert (12-0/3.66m) scored a mild upset, as Western Washington’s Anna Paradee, who set the conference record at last week’s Ken Shannon Invitational in Seattle of 13-1.75 (4.01m) was third at 11-6.5 (3.52m).

The pole vault finals were notable in that all eight scoring places went to athletes from Central, Western, and Seattle Pacific.

In other women’s finals, Brittany Grant of Western Washington won the steeplechase in 10:43.79. Samantha La Rue of Central Washington was third in the discus at 133-10 (40.79m).

Kyra Brannan of Seattle Pacific led a 1-2 finish in the long jump, as she won with a mark of 18-11.25 (5.77m), ahead of teammate Geneva Lehnert’s 18-4.25 (5.59m). Jasmine McMullin of Western Washington was third at 17-11.75 (5.48m).

In the men’s team competition, Western Washington stands third with 37 points, as favored Alaska Anchorage leads with 66 points, while Central Washington is fifth with 25 points.

Brandon Pless of the Vikings was second in the shot put finals with a toss of 52-1.75 (15.89m), and third in the discus at 168-6 (51.37m).

In the men’s high jump, reigning NCAA indoor and outdoor champion Mikel Smith of Saint Martin’s met disaster, as he failed to clear his opening height of 6-9.75 (2.08m).

The link to results is available here.

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (Edinburg, Texas)

One day after winning the heptathlon, Seattle University’s Mandie Maddux finished second in the javelin with yet another personal best throw, this time to 145-2 (44.25m).

New Mexico’s Kayli Farmer won the competition with a toss of 148-6 (45.27m).

After seven events, the Redhawk women are in fourth with 30 points. while the men are in sixth with 6 points after seven events.

The link to results is available here.

MACKEY AND LOXSOM ENTERED IN SHANGHAI DIAMOND LEAGUE MEET

Katie Mackey of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts, and Seattle resident Cas Loxsom are both entered in Saturday's IAAF Diamond League meet in Shanghai.

Mackey is entered in the women's 1500, while Loxsom is entered in the men's 800, where he will face a field that includes reigning world and Olympic champ David Rudisha of Kenya.

The start lists for the IAAF Diamond League meet are available here.

NOTE:  The sports information offices of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Seattle University, Eastern Washington University, the Big Sky Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference contributed to this report.