UW's Ida Eikeng pops big throw in javelin at Ken Shannon Invitational...

SEATTLE--Under weather conditions that quite frankly left a lot to be desired, the University of Washington closed out the home portion of its 2021 track and field season with the Ken Shannon Invitational at Husky Track Friday afternoon.

In what was essentially a tune-up and prove it meet for those athletes looking to compete at next week's conference championships, the Ken Shannon Invitational had all the feel of a preview of next week's Great Northwest Athletic Conference meet in Monmouth, Oregon, as Central Washington, Saint Martin's, Seattle Pacific, and Western Washington were close to full strength with their squads, while in contrast, the Huskies sat out the majority of their front line athletes.

There were some outstanding marks put out during the meet, including a big toss in the javelin by Washington's Ida Eiking, who threw 171-1 (52.16m), making her the third longest thrower in school history. The throw is currently the third best in the Pac-12 and number 19 on the NCAA descending order list.

Eiking also won the shot put, throwing a season best 44-8.25 (13.62m). 

She joined Husky grad student Julian Body as a double winner on the day, as Body won the 110 hurdles in 14.41, and the 200 in 21.55.

Freshman hammer thrower Jayden White was a winner for the Dawgs, throwing a best of 214-3 (65.30m). However, the big throws of the day in the hammer came from senior teammate Connor Jost, who threw three PRs in the series, cumulating with a best of 203-10 (62.14m). GNAC conference leader Andrew Harris of Central Washington was third at 194-10 (59.39m).

Seattle Pacific's Dania Holmberg ran 4:34.83 to win the women's 1500 in essentially a solo effort, as she tried to move up the NCAA descending order list. Ditto for Western Washington's Calahan Warren, who won the men's 1500, though he had a pacesetter for the first 800. Warren won in 3:45.48, slightly slower than his season best of 3:44.82 set at the Western Washington Invitational last month.

Upon the conclusion of the meet, the University of Washington honored its 19 seniors (above/Paul Merca photo) for their contributions to the program, with several returning for a fifth or even a sixth year because of losing the 2020 campaign due to the pandemic.

Complete results of the Ken Shannon Invitational are available here.

In Eugene, University of Oregon alum and former Renton resident Devon Allen opened his 2021 outdoor campaign by winning the 110 hurdles at the Oregon Twilight meet at Hayward Field Friday night.

Allen, a finalist at the 2019 world championships in Doha as well as the 2016 Rio Olympics, ran 13.40.

Results of the Oregon Twilight are available here.

NOTE: The sports information office of the University of Washington, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the University of Oregon contributed to this report.

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