Gruver breaks own facility record to highlight day 1 of UW Indoor Preview...


SEATTLE--Washington alum Olivia Gruver (photo by Paul Merca), the Brigham Young women's distance medley relay team, and Husky freshman Jayden White provided the highlights of day 1 of the UW Indoor Preview at the Dempsey Indoor facility Friday afternoon,

Gruver, the outdoor collegiate record holder the women's pole vault who was recently featured in Track & Field News, got her 2021 season off to a roaring start, breaking her own facility record of 15-3.5 (4.66m) by one centimeter, clearing 15-3.75 (4.67m).

She needed two attempts to clear her opening height of 14-4 (4.37m), and three to go over 14-10 (4.52m), before taking three attempts to navigate 15-3.75 (4.67m), with the bar quivering, but staying put.

Gruver's day ended with three misses at 15-7.25 (4.76m), none of which were particularly close.

Pending the outcome of meets around the world this weekend, her mark is currently tied for second on the 2021 world list, and is the current US leader.

Washington's Makenna Barton finished second at 13-2.25 (4.02m), and Washington State's Emily Coombs was third at 12-2.5 (3.72m).

In a spirited battle between the two fastest teams in NCAA Division I last season, Brigham Young's distance medley relay team outlasted the host Huskies, as the two teams combined to run the two fastest times in the nation so far this season, pending the outcome of other meets.

The Cougars and Huskies traded the lead for most of the race, with Brigham Young prevailing in the end, as they ran 11:03.62 with Courtney Wayment, the 2019 NCAA cross country fifth place finisher pulling ahead of UW anchor Allie Schadler on the final 400 meters.

The Husky squad of Madison Heisterman, Marlena Preigh, Kelly Makin & Schadler finished the race in 11:06.66.

Both squads easily broke the meet record of 11:32.23 set by Seattle Pacific back in 2010.


Husky freshman Jayden White (photo by Paul Merca) threw the second furthest mark in school history in the men's 35 pound weight throw, throwing 68-9.75 (20.97m) in round 4 to take the victory.

The freshman from Everett HS preceded his throw by launching the implement 60-11.5 (18.58m) in round 1 and 66-8.5 (20.33m) in round 2 before fouling in the third round.

White's toss is behind only Husky hall of fame member Scott Neilson, who threw 71-5.5 (21.78m) in 1979.

It was a sweep for the Huskies as Connor Jost (61-8.5/18.81m) and Sam Van Peursem (55-4.25/16.87m) finished second and third.

MPSF triple jump champ Charisma Taylor of Washington State (18-10.75/5.76m) bested the Huskies' Jelani Heath (18-9.75/5.73m) in the women's long jump, while the Cougars' Suzy Pace won the women's high jump over teammate Kaylee Sowle on the count back, with both clearing 5-7 (1.70m).

The meet resumes Saturday at 11 am, with two sessions both consisting of running events. Media partner RunnerSpace.com ($) will stream the meet live.

Day 1 results are available here.

NOTE: The sports information offices of the University of Washington, Washington State University, and Brigham Young University contributed to this report.

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