Huskies' Ida Eikeng leads Pac-12 heptathlon & finishes 4th in javelin...


LOS ANGELES--
After four events in the heptathlon, Washington's Ida Eikeng (photo courtesy UW Athletics) leads with a first day score of 3571 points, 67 points ahead of Allie Jones of Stanford at the conclusion of day 1 of the Pac-12 track & field championships at Loker Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern California.

The Huskies' Lyndsey Lopes stands third with 3422, while defending Pac-12 champion Hannah Rusnak is in fourth with 3376 points.

Eikeng finished in the top three in all four of the first day events, placing second in the 100 hurdles (13.67), third in the high jump (5-6.5/1.69m), won the shot put (44-11.5/13.70m), and finished third in the 200 (24.55).

Lopes was third in the 100 hurdles (13.74), tied for the win in the high jump with Rusnak (5-7.75/1.72m), and won the 200 (24.25). 

Rusnak's other top 3 finish on the day came in the shot put, where she was second behind Eikeng at 42-2.25/12.86m.

After competing in her first four heptathlon, Eikeng finished fourth in the javelin with a toss of 167-0 (50.90m) on her second attempt, as Arizona State's Alizee Minard won with a throw of 181-5 (55.31m).

Kalama native Kaelyn Carlson-Shipley of Arizona finished sixth with a personal best 165-1 (50.32m).

Dalton Sugg and Zach Annanie of the Huskies finished second and third in the men's javelin final, as they threw 220-9 (67.30m), and 211-5 (64.46m). Washington State's Alex Cielo (197-7/60.22m). Josh Farr (191-5/58.34m), and Gabe Shouman (184-11/56.38m) finished 6-7-8.

Spokane native John Dressel of the University of Colorado, who was in a group of six runners for 9600 meters of the 10000, finished second in a time of 28:42.17, as Charles Hicks of Stanford won in 28:39.46, running a 55.74 last 400 to get the win.

The Huskies' Andrew Jordan was third in 28:43.72, just ahead of teammate Tibebu Proctor's 28:49.72. Washington's Talon Hull was sixth in 28:51.62, while Tacoma native Jack Yearian of Oregon was seventh in 29:00.99.

Washington's Haley Herberg, who did most of the early pacesetting, finished third in the women's 10000 with a time of 32:51.96 in her debut over that distance, as Oregon's Carmela Cardama Baez won in 32:38.73. Herberg's time was the second fastest in UW history.

Husky freshman Naomi Smith finished fifth in 33:22.67.

In the men's 1500 semis, Washington State's Paul Ryan had the fastest time at 3:41.94, as he and Zach Stallings advanced to Sunday's finals. The Huskies advanced all four of its entries, led by Sam Tanner's 3:42.02.

The women's 1500 semis saw the Huskies advance all three entries, led by Allie Schadler's 4:19.62. WSU's Neema Kimtai also advanced to Sunday's final.

Washington's Cass Elliott and Jonathan Birchman both advanced to Sunday's finals in the 400 hurdles, as did Washington State's Stephanie Cho in the women's 400 hurdles. 

The one big surprise was the failure of 2019 All-American Darhian Mills of Washington to advance, as she was fourth in her heat in 60.91.

In the decathlon, Washington's Ollie Thorner stands third with 3817 points, while Parker Kennedy is seventh at 3539. Washington State's Seth Andres is eighth with 3511.

The Husky men lead after the first day with 39 points after 3 events, with Washington State eighth with 6 points. Washington stands fifth in the women's team race with 15 points, while Washington State has 1.

Saturday's competition will have six field event finals, and finals in the 3000 steeplechase, in addition to the conclusion of the heptathlon and decathlon.

First day results of the Pac-12 championships are available here.

At the Big Sky Championships in Ogden, Utah, Gavin Lee of Eastern Washington finished second in the men's javelin to highlight the Eagles' day of competition.

Lee threw 218-3 (66.54m) to earn a spot on the podium behind Montana State's Cantor Coverdell, who won with a throw of 221-4 (67.46m).

The Eagles' Vernice Keyes also earned a place on the podium, as she finished second in the women's hammer with a throw of 181-4 (55.27m).

School record holder Justin Roosma ran 9:07.78 to finish third in the 3000 steeplechase, as Montana State's Duncan Hamilton won in 8:53.91.

Parker Bowden again lowered his school record in the men's 110 hurdles, running 13.74, the fastest time of the semis.

After seven events, the Eastern Washington men's team is fourth with 26 points, while the women's team stands eighth with 11 points.

The meet concludes Saturday. 

Results of the Big Sky Conference championship meet are available here.


At the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in Raleigh, North Carolina, Woodinville native Olivia Markezich (photo courtesy Notre Dame Athletics) of Notre Dame finished second in the 3000 steeplechase, running 9:45.72.

The graduate of the Bear Creek School earned a US Olympic Trials qualifying mark, going under the standard of 9:50.00. 

Olivia's sister Andrea runs for the University of Washington, where she was ninth in the 10000 at the Pac-12 meet in 34:19.16.

Results from the ACC Championships are available here.

NOTE: The Pac-12 Conference, the Big Sky Conference and the sports information offices of Notre Dame, the University of Washington, Washington State University, and Eastern Washington University contributed to this report.

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