Huskies' Luke Houser stars as he breaks UW school & Dempsey record in 3000 at UW Indoor Preview...
One of the best performances of the meet came in the men's 3000, as Washington's Luke Houser (Paul Merca photo), the reigning NCAA indoor mile champion, took down the Dempsey facility record in the event, running 7:40.40 to break Abdihamid Nur of Northern Arizona's mark of 7:40.66 set two years ago.
In the process, he defeated Washington alum Kieran Lumb, the defending champion of this event and the Canadian 1500 meter champion, as Lumb also got under the Dempsey record, running 7:40.53. Sam Prakel, who was a volunteer coach at UW the last several seasons, but trains under Husky coach Andy Powell, was third in 7:41.17.
For Houser, the mark is the fourth fastest in the NCAA so far this season, pending the outcome of other meets around the country this weekend. It's also a Washington school record, beating Lumb's 7:43.27 set in winning last year's UW Indoor Preview.
In the women's mile, Washington's Carley Thomas roared to victory, running 4:30.38 to outlast Oregon's Klaudia Kazimierska's 4:31.87, and Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts, who was third in 4:32.08.
The men's mile saw Brannon Kidder of the Brooks Beasts, who was injured for most of the 2023 season, run 3:58.31 to beat Mac Franks, the Western Washington alum. Kidder ran 3:58.31, to Franks' 3:58.85, just off his personal best of 3:58.56, set in Boston last year.
While Kidder and Franks were the only two sub-four milers on the day, Kidder broke a three-way tie with Olympian Andrew Wheating and fellow Oregon teammate AJ Acosta for the most sub-four minute miles run in the Dempsey. Kidder now is the all-time leader with six sub-four minute miles at Dempsey.
Washington alum Sam Ellis, last year's Pac-12 800 meter champ, won the men's 1000, running 2:18.96 to beat 2019 world championships 1500m finalist Craig Engles, who ran 2:19.06, and Brandon Miller of the Brooks Beasts, who finished third in 2:19.54.
In the field, the two best marks of the day came from Washington's Prestin Artis, who sailed to a mark of 25-10 (7.87m), the second longest mark in school history indoors, overtaking Husky legend Phil Shinnick's best of 25-6.5 (7.78m) set in 1965. It currently stands tied for the sixth best mark in the world this season.
As a side note, regardless of whether it was set indoors or outdoors, it's the third best in school history, behind Shinnick's outdoor mark of 27-4 (8.33m) set in 1963, and Norris Frederick's indoor best of 26-7.75 (8.12m) set in 2008.
Artis is currently number 5 on the NCAA Division I indoor descending order list.
The other big mark in the field came from Emerald Ridge HS junior JaiCienna Gero-Holt, who won the women's high jump with a best of 6-1.25 (1.86m). She's the first high schooler over 6 feet this season. It's also tied for the seventh best jump in the world this season.
EASTERN'S MADELYN KNIGHT HIGHLIGHTS SPOKANE INDOOR CHALLENGE...
In Spokane, Madelyn Knight of Eastern Washington ran away with the women's 60 meter hurdles title, winning in 8.37.
For Knight, the mark established a new school record, eclipsing the old mark of 8.51 set by Seville Broussard in 1999.
Eagle teammate Zach Klobutcher, who was third at Friday's Sports Showcase at 16-6.75 (5.05m), bounced back to win the men's pole vault at 17-1.5 (5.22m). In the women's pole vault, Central Washington's Lauren McGough won in a personal best 13-3.5 (4.05m), the fourth best mark in NCAA Division II this season.
Former Washington State standout Justin Janke won the men's mile in 4:09.64.
KATIE MOON TIES FOR SECOND, WHILE HANA MOLL TIES FOR FOURTH AT POLE VAULT SUMMIT...
In Reno late Friday night, former Pullman resident and defending world and Olympic champion Katie Moon opened her 2024 campaign in a tie for second with Canada's Anicka Newell at the UCS National Pole Vault Summit at the Reno Livestock & Events Center.
Both Moon and Newell jumped 14-10.25 (4.53m), as Sandi Morris took the win in a world leading mark of 15-9.75 (4.82m).
University of Washington freshman Hana Moll, who jumped 14-1.25 (4.30m) to win her first collegiate meet last month in Spokane, improved her season best, clearing 14-6.25 (4.43m), tying with Gabby Leon, and former Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi of Greece for fourth.
Washington alum Olivia Gruver finished tenth at 13-7.5 (4.15m).
For NCAA qualifying, all marks from the Pole Vault Summit will not count as there are no other track and field events contested in the meet.
NOTE: The sports information office of the University of Washington, Spokane Sports and the National Pole Vault Summit contributed to this report.
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