WEEKEND ROUNDUP: NCAA D2 Recap; Spectators allowed at Olympic Trials; Chula Vista Field Fest recap...
Here's some of the stuff we couldn't fit into Saturday's post:
NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP...
In Allendale, Michigan, Western Washington's Calahan Warren (photo courtesy WWU Athletics) finished sixth in the 1500 meters to earn a spot on the podium, clocking a time of 3:53.68 on the final day of the NCAA Division II Track & Field championships hosted by Grand Valley State University.
The sixth-place finish by Warren was the highest by a WWU runner at the national meet since Keith Lemay was also sixth in the 800m in 2008 (1:51.62) and the best 1500m performance at nationals since Anthony Tomisch placed fourth (3:48.72) in 2007. Warren set the WWU 1500m record in 3:44.82 on April 3 at the WWU Invitational, the number 3 mark in GNAC history.
Hannah Nienaber finished ninth in the javelin, just off the podium, with a throw of 138-4 (42.16m), while Aliyah Dawkins tied for 12th in the high jump, with a best of 5-5 (1.65m).
Seattle Pacific's Dania Holmberg also just missed a podium finish in the 1500, as she finished ninth in a personal best 4:25.74.
Although Holmberg's Seattle Pacific career has concluded, more racing is still ahead for her. She will be heading to the University of Oregon to begin a master's program in psychology. Because the covid pandemic led to the cancelation of outdoor track and cross country in 2020 and indoor track in 2021, she has eligibility remaining in all three seasons and is planning to join the Ducks.
HAYWARD FIELD TO ALLOW FANS FOR THE US OLYMPIC TRIALS...
In a 180-degree turn, TrackTown USA, the organizing committee behind the US Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene next month, announced Saturday that spectators will be allowed to watch the meet in person at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
“Oregon health regulations regarding stadium capacity have shifted significantly in the last two weeks,” said Michael Reilly, CEO of TrackTown USA. “We are absolutely thrilled as these changes allow for previously impossible spectator numbers. Alongside our partners, we have developed a plan to maximize attendance while keeping participants and our community safe. We appreciate the hard work of public health officials and government leaders who have made today’s announcement possible.”
The policy shift is due to new guidance on outdoor gatherings for individuals who have been vaccinated for COVID-19. There will be both vaccinated and unvaccinated sections in the stadium, with vaccinated sections forming much of the ticket inventory. Ticket holders must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination in order to sit in a vaccinated section.
Some of the key parameters include: All customers who retained their ticket orders through April 2021 will be able to keep their tickets if they so choose. Seating locations, however, are subject to change due to mandatory adaptations of the seat map in order to be compliant with health regulations.
Athlete families will have the opportunity to purchase up to four tickets per session on the day(s) that their athlete is competing.
After existing ticket customers and athlete families have been accommodated, any remaining ticket inventory will be sold to the public. Only mobile tickets will be issued, and all plans for the Trials must be approved by the Oregon Health Authority and are therefore subject to change.
More information on this will be available at TrackTown20.com.
REICHERT AND PATRICELLI THROW AT CHULA VISTA FIELD FESTIVAL...
One week after competing at the USATF Throws Festival in Tucson, Western Washington alum Katie Reichert and University of Washington grad Denham Patricelli competed at Saturday's Chula Vista Field Festival at the Chula Vista Elite Training Center.
Reichert finished fifth in the women's javelin with a best of 162-3 (49.45m) in an event that saw 2016 US Olympian Maggie Malone break the American record of 218-8 (66.67m) set by Vancouver native Kara Winger in 2010.
Malone threw the spear 219-3 (66.82m) to erase Winger's nearly eleven year old standard. Her throw is currently the third best in the world so far this season.
Throwing against a field he faced the previous weekend in Tucson, Patricelli finished sixth with a best of 229-1 (69.82m) as Michael Shuey got the win with a best of 263-6 (80.32m).
NOTE: The NCAA, TrackTown USA, Western Washington University, Seattle Pacific University & USA Track & Field contributed to this report.
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