Huskies' Makenna Barton & Imani Apostol get wins on opening day of Don Kirby Elite...

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico--Junior Makenna Barton (above/photo courtesy Washington Athletics) picked up one of the two wins on the day for a small group of Husky field event athletes and sprinters competing in the first day of the Don Kirby Elite invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Barton opened with two straight first attempt clearances at 12-2 (3.71m) and 12-8 (3.86m), before needing two tries at the next two heights of 13-1.75 (4.01m) and her ultimate winning height of 13-5.75 (4.11m).

Barton's winning clearance eclipsed her previous personal best of 13-3 (4.04m), set at last year's MPSF championship meet.

Former Washington State vaulter Molly Scharmann, who transferred to San Diego State, was third at 13-1.75, while current Cougar Emily Coombs was fifth at 12-8.

Husky senior Imani Apostol got an early victory today when she won the unseeded 400-meter dash with a season-best time of 55.81 seconds.

Washington State's Kreete Verlin was fourth in the long jump, with a mark of 20-0.5 (6.11m), while the Huskies' Hannah Rusnak was sixth with a personal best 19-6.25 (5.95m), and the Cougars' Lauren Newman was eighth at 19-5.5 (5.93m).

The Cougars' Leonie Reuter finished second in the women's high jump with a clearance of 5-10 (1.78m).

Reigning Pac-12 discus champ Elijah Mason finished third in the 35-pound weight throw with a personal best 64-3 (19.58m), while teammate Connor Jost was eighth in a personal best 61-2.25 (18.65m).

The Don Kirby concludes Friday afternoon, and upon the conclusion of that meet, the Toyota USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships will begin.

Day 1 results of the Don Kirby Elite Invitational are available here.

NOTE:  The sports information office of the University of Washington and Flash Results contributed to this report.