Light competition weekend on tap for state's Division I and II schools...
This weekend will be relatively light for Washington's nine Division I and II schools after last weekend's fireworks both in Spokane and Seattle.
The big meet this weekend is the Lauren McCluskey Memorial meet Friday and Saturday at the Kibbie Dome, hosted by the University of Idaho.
Washington State and Eastern Washington will send a large contingent to Moscow, while Western Washington is sending a small group consisting of multi-event specialists and pole vaulters.
The Eagles are expected to be led by hurdler Maddy Shekhawat (EWU Athletics photo), who broke his own school record twice at the Spokane Sports Showcase at The Podium last week.
He managed to break it twice during the meet—first with a 7.79 in the prelims, then with a 7.78 in the final, which currently ranks as the 18th-best time in the nation.
According to Eastern director of track & field Erin Tucker, "Maddy definitely has more in the tank—I know he can go even faster. I'm happy with his performance, but even more excited that he knows he can improve."
As of 10:30 am Thursday, the University of Idaho had not posted start lists or a time schedule. Here is the link to the school's track and field page.
Meanwhile, Central Washington will send a group of sprinters, throwers and vaulters, while Seattle Pacific will send pole vaulters Lizzy Daugherty and Emily Thomason to Reno for the Nevada Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center.
This is the third full track meet of the season at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events, after the facility built a brand new 200-meter Mondo track that opened last month.
Reno was the long time home of a number of meets until the early 2000s when the old wooden track fell into disrepair.
FRED NEWHOUSE PASSES AWAY JANUARY 20TH...
Fred Newhouse, who was a graduate assistant track coach at the University of Washington in the mid-1970s, passed away on January 20th at the age of 76.
Newhouse, who competed collegiately at Prairie View A&M in Texas, coached at Washington under Ken Shannon while he was pursuing a master's degree in International Business. He did so after serving a two-year stint in the US Army while stationed at Fort Lewis, south of Tacoma.
Newhouse finished second in the 1976 Olympic 400 meter final behind Cuba's Alberto Juantorena, who ran a low altitude best of 44.26 to Newhouse's 44.40. Newhouse later earned a gold medal in the 4 x 400 relay, helping lead the USA to victory in 2:58.65.
After his career, he worked as an engineer for Exxon in Baton Rouge, and as a director of public affairs at Valero Energy. He also was an assistant treasurer of the Prairie View A&N Foundation.
Newhouse was a constant presence at many of the nation's major track meets, whether he was coaching his youth club team, the Northwest Flyers, doing volunteer work for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, USA Track & Field, or serving as a meet official for some of the biggest competitions.
He was on the staff of the 2000 Olympic men's track & field team as a manager under head coach John Chaplin of Washington State University.
In his later years, Newhouse served as a meet referee or senior official at numerous USATF national championships, Olympic Trials and the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene.
NOTE: The University of Idaho, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University, Western Washington University, and Central Washington University contributed to this report.
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