Washington's Hana Moll wins collegiate debut at Spokane Invitational...
SPOKANE--For four of the six Washington Division I and II schools who assembled at The Podium, Saturday's Spokane Invitational was the start of the 2023-24 indoor track and field season.
While Gonzaga and Washington went across the country last Saturday in Boston, this was truly the beginning of the indoor season, as athletes ran, jumped and threw their way around the Pacific Northwest's only hydraulic banked track facility.
In the most anticipated event of the day, University of Washington freshman Hana Moll (Paul Merca photo), the ninth place finisher at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this summer, made her collegiate debut by winning a stacked invitational section of the women's pole vault.
Opening at 13-3.5 (4.05m), Moll cleared that bar on her first try, as did her teammate and NCAA outdoor runner-up Nastassja Campbell.
At the next height of 13-9.25 (4.20m), Moll needed a second try to get over the bar, as Campbell took the lead with a first attempt make.
That bar eliminated defending Spokane Invitational champion Sarah Ferguson of Washington, along with Washington State freshman Tatum Moku.
Moll needed two tries to clear the winning height of 14-1.25 (4.30m), while Campbell missed all three attempts.
The freshman from Olympia's Capital HS closed the day with three misses at 14-7.25 (4.45m).
Ferguson finished third at 13-3.5 (4.05m), with Moku fourth at the same height.
Washington's Avril Wilson was fifth at 12-9.5 (3.90m), while Eastern Washington's Savannah Schultz and Amanda Moll of Washington tied for sixth at 12-3.5 (3.75m).
Other highlights:
--Washington State's Mason Lawyer won the men's 60 in 6.70, while NCAA D2 qualifier E'Lexis Hollis of Central Washington won the women's 60 in a personal best 7.44, which is the second fastest time in Division II this season;
--WSU's Micaela De Mello won the women's 60 hurdles in 8.40 over Eastern Washington's Madelyn Knight's 8.57;
--Washington's Daniel Gaik (47.76) and Anna Terrell (55.07) won the men's and women's 400 meters. For Terrell, the mark is the fifth fastest in school history;
--Gonzaga's Sammy Geiger (4:11.87) and Willow Collins (4:51.54) won the men's and women's miles;
--Emy Ntekpere of Central Washington (5-8.5/1.74m) won the women's high jump in a mark that's currently number two in the young season in Division II;
--Washington alum Jacob Englar won the men's invitational pole vault with a clearance of 17-11 (5.46m);
--The Huskies' Prestin Artis won the men's long jump at 24-3.75 (7.41m) to put him in the Division I top ten;
--Beatrice Asomaning of Washington, who was the only thrower who traveled to Spokane, won the women's weight throw with a best of 65-4.75 (19.93m).
The indoor track and field season in the state of Washington resumes after the holidays with the Spokane Sports Showcase on January 12th, the Spokane Indoor Challenge on January 12th & 13th, and the UW Indoor Preview in Seattle on January 13th.
NOTE: The sports information offices of the University of Washington, and Stanford University contributed to this report.
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