Washington women fourth in hyper-fast distance medley relay at UW Invitational...
The women’s distance medley relay produced the seven fastest times in NCAA Division I so far this season, pending the outcome of other meets in the country.
Oklahoma State won a thrilling battle, running 10:55.93 with Sinclaire Johnson on the carry, as the Cowgirls took command with about 500 meters left after Washington’s Lilli Burdon (left/photo by Howard Lao) had the Huskies battling BYU on the 1600-meter leg.
Boise State finished second in 10:56.42, with NCAA steeple champ Allie Ostrander on the carry, while BYU hung on for third in 10:56.51, and the Huskies finished fourth in 11:00.35.
The Husky team of Katie Rainsberger, Imani Apostle, Hannah Derby and Burdon ran the third fastest time in school history, behind the 2012 team with Katie Flood on the anchor that won the national title, and the 2016 team with Maddie Meyers on the anchor.
In the men’s distance medley relay, Washington’s Mick Stanovsek got the baton first ahead of Stanford’s Grant Fisher, the NCAA cross country runner-up, but in the end, Fisher was too much, as he took the Cardinal to victory in 9:29.35, while the Huskies ran 9:37.15, which are the second and third fastest times in Division I so far this season.
The most impressive individual performance of the night came from Alaska Anchorage’s Caroline Kurgat, who destroyed the all-time NCAA Division II mark of 15:33.83 by Shippensburg’s Neely Spence in the 5000 meters, as she ran 15:28.46.
Spence’s mark was set outdoors at the 2011 Mt. SAC Relays. Needless to say, Kurgat also obliterated the previous all-time indoor best of 16:01.09, also set by Neely Spence in 2011.
NCAA qualifier Hope Bender of UC Santa Barbara established her dominance in the final event of the pentathlon, the 800, to take the victory with a final score of 4220, the second best score in the country.
In the men’s heptathlon, Phillip Bailey of the Santa Barbara TC leads after four events with a score of 3075.
Western Washington’s Seren Dances is in fourth with 2831, and Central Washington’s Kodiak Landis stands fifth at the break with 2821 points.
Kentucky alum and UW volunteer assistant Tim Duckworth, who led after three events, did not start the high jump.
The Saturday portion of the UW Invitational starts at 10 am, with the men’s and women’s miles, the men’s 3000, the women’s and men’s pole vaults, both shot puts, and the men’s weight throw the feature events.
The results of the first day are available here. Washington's first day recap is available here.
NOTE: The University of Washington contributed to this report.
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