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A (somewhat) return to winter normalcy as Huskies host intrasquad meet...

Kelly Makin (3) en route to winning the
women's 600 in 1:32.55 (Paul Merca photo)

SEATTLE--It was good to be back.

After eleven months of not seeing live track & field or cross country action, the first sign of normalcy returned to the Dempsey Indoor, as the University of Washington hosted its intrasquad meet Saturday.

On the Saturday before the Martin Luther King 3-day holiday, the Huskies would normally host the Husky Indoor Preview, featuring schools from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California, along with select professionals, world championship competitors, and Olympic standouts.

With the school only receiving approval by the state and county authorities to even conduct indoor meets earlier this week, the track & field staff elected to host an intrasquad meet complete with meet officials, to demonstrate that they can conduct competitions while following health and safety guidelines during a pandemic.

Athletes wore masks before and after competitions, with Husky training staff waiting at the finish line to hand out masks immediately after racing. In accordance with facility restrictions, there were no fans in attendance.

As was expected, especially from those who hadn't competed since the end of February, there were few outstanding marks, as athletes tried to shake off the rust of not having competitions.

However, that didn't stop recent Washington grad Olivia Gruver from clearing 15-1 (4.60m) in Friday's pole vault competition, which would be the top indoor mark in the nation this season pending the results of other meets around the country this weekend.

Other notable marks included Pac-12 scorer Cass Elliott winning the men's 600 in 1:19.96, and Kelly Makin winning the women's 600 in 1:32.55.

Kemuel Santana won the men's 300 in 33.97, while Sam Van Peurem won the men's shot with a toss of 59-5.75 (18.13m). Earlier in the meet, Jayden White won the men's weight throw at 65-11.5 (20.10m).

Other winners: Ida Eiking in the w60 hurdles (8.48); Julian Body in the m60 hurdles (8.24); grad assistant and defending USATF road mile champ Sam Prakel won the m1200 (2:54.49); Beatrice Asomaning won the w Weight (55-4.75/16.88m); Ollie Thorner in the m LJ (21-10.75/6.67m); Jelani Heath in the w LJ (18-10/5.74m); Makayla Kelby the w SP (45-7.75/13.91m); and Isaac Green won the m3000 (8:15.62).

None of the marks from the meet will count towards qualifying for the NCAA indoor championships in March.

Washington's recap is available here.

Washington's next home meet is tentatively scheduled for January 29-30th against Washington State.

BIG SKY CANCELS INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS...

On Friday, the Big Sky Conference announced that it will cancel its indoor track & field championships due to local health restrictions and capacity concerns.

Additionally, two indoor tracks belonging to Northern Arizona and the University of Idaho, will be off limits for competition because they are also football facilities. The Big Sky is playing a spring football schedule.

paulmerca.blogspot.com has reached out to Eastern Washington's coaching staff for comment on what direction they will go without a conference championship meet this indoor season.

The Big Sky Conference release is available here.

NOTE: The sports information office of the University of Washington and the Big Sky Conference contributed to this report.

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