WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Heath finishes sixth at Great Edinburgh X-Country Challenge, plus indoor highlights...
Here’s a recap of what else happened with the state’s pro and college track and field athletes in the first full weekend of competition:
In Edinburgh, Scotland, Garrett Heath of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts (left/photo by John Nepolitan, dyestat.com) raced to a sixth place finish at the Great Edinburgh X Country Challenge race, finishing the 8k course at Holyrood Park Saturday in 25:03.
US Olympian Leonard Korir, whose younger sister Vallery was an NCAA cross country All-American for Washington State last fall, took the victory in 24:32, winning by three seconds over Kaan Kigen Ozbilen of Turkey, running for the European all-star team.
Heath’s sixth place finish was second on Team USATF behind Korir, as the USA finished second in the team competition behind Europe by a 47-50 margin, with Great Britain third with 74 points,
In Nampa, Idaho on Saturday, 2017 NCAA hammer qualifier Brock Eager of Washington State won the men’s 35-pound weight throw with a toss of 65-2 (19.86m), while the Cougs’ Aoife Martin won the women’s weight throw on Friday night with a throw of 56-4.75 (17.19m) at the Ed Jacoby Invitational, hosted by Boise State.
Other winners for the Cougs included Ja’Maun Charles in the 60 and 200 (6.79/21.72); Jake Ulrich in the 400 (48.95); Nick Johnson in the 60 hurdles (7.98); and the men’s 4x400 relay (3:19.52).
Stephanie Cho was WSU’s other female winner, taking the 400 in 56.35.
WSU alum Kiana Davis won the triple jump with a personal best 42-10.25 (13.06m).
Puyallup native and Boise State alum David Elliott won the men’s mile in 4:06.30.
WSU’s recap is available here, while complete results are available here.
In Moscow, Idaho, the Eastern Washington women took six victories, while the men earned three wins at the Vandal Indoor Invitational hosted by the University of Idaho Friday and Saturday.
The Eagles’ Keshun McGee was the team’s lone double winner, taking the long jump (23-11.5/7.30m) and the triple jump (49-9.25/15.17m).
Larry Still won the men’s pole vault, clearing 16-6.75 (5.05m), while Samantha Raines took the women’s vault at 11-11.25 (3.64m).
Leanne Asper had the top women’s performance for the Eagles, winning the 800 in 2:12.49, just 1/100th away from the EWU school record of 2:12.48 set in 2005.
Eastern Washington’s release is available here. Complete results of the Vandal Indoor Invitational are available here.
Eastern Washington travels to Pullman Friday and Saturday January 19-20 for the Washington State University Indoor Open.
NOTE: USA Track & Field, and the sports information offices of Boise State, Washington State and Eastern Washington contributed to this report.
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