Cougars' Evans Kurui fourth in top section of men's 5000 at Bryan Clay Invitational...
AZUSA, California--Washington State freshman Evans Kurui (Paul Merca photo) became the third fastest Cougar in school history over the 5000 meter distance Thursday night as he finished fourth in the top section of the men's 5000 at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Cougar Stadium on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.
Kurui tucked in behind pacesetters Clement Duigou and Theo Quax, along with a group of three others.
After Quax, the last pacesetter dropped out just past the two mile mark, Kurui and eventual winner Habtom Samuel of New Mexico and Eritrea went to the front, joined by Ishmael Kipkurui of New Mexico and Valentin Soca of Cal Baptist.
Kurui started losing ground over the last few laps, as Samuel won in a meet record time of 13:05.87, putting an exclamation point by running a 59.6 last lap.
Kipkurui was second in 13:09.24, with Soca third at 13:13.10, and Kurui fourth in 13:16.01. All were under the Cougar Stadium record of 13:16.52 set three years ago by Washington's Brian Fay.
Kurui lowered his WSU freshman record of 13:17.16 set indoors at the Husky Classic in February.
It's the third fastest time in school history behind only Henry Rono's 13:06.2 set in Knaruik, Norway in 1981, which was a world record at the time, and Peter Koech's 13:09.50, set in Stockholm, Sweden in 1982.
Other highlights from the Bryan Clay:
Her personal best was set last summer in Lignano, Italy in her buildup to the Olympics, where she ran 2:00.28.
--The Huskies' Kyle Reinheimer set a school record in winning the top section of the men's 800 in 1:46.09.
Nathan Green set the old school record last year of 1:46.23.
The Bryan Clay Invitational concludes Friday with the main portion of the meet, plus the 1500s.
SIMMONS CONTINUES WINNING WAYS AT PACIFIC COAST INVITATIONAL...
About 35 miles south of Azusa, Eastern Washington's Egypt Simmons continued her winning ways at the Pacific Coast Invitational hosted by Long Beach State at Jack Rose Track.
After finishing second in the long jump with a best of 20-6.5 (6.26m), Simmons bounced back to win the triple jump with a best of 42-5.25 (12.93m).
In what could be a preview of the Big Sky conference meet next month in Sacramento, Simmons was beaten in the long jump by Hailey Coey of Montana State, who jumped 20-11.25 (6.38m) for the win.
Simmons' teammate Kimberly Smith was third at 20-4.25 (6.20m).
Western Washington's Maurice Woodring set a Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-time record in winning the men's 400 hurdles in 51.42.
His teammate Bec Bennett won her section of the women's 200, as she became the first Viking to dip under 24 seconds, running 23.99. Bennett's time was the sixth best overall.
Washington State's Laura Lindquist finished second in the women's javelin, throwing 152-11 (46.62m).
Mason Lawyer of Washington State was second overall in the men's 100, running a wind aided 10.22, behind Joshua Caleb of Alaska Anchorage's 10.11 (+3.6). Teammate Grant Buckmiller was fifth in the top section of the 200 in 21.10.
The Cougars' Kai Twaddle-Dunham was third in the men's discus with a throw of 187-0 (57.00m).
Action at Long Beach State continues Friday with day 1 of the Beach Invitational.
COSCULLUELA FINISHES FIFTH IN MT SAC HEPTATHLON...
In Walnut, Washington freshman Sofia Cosculluela (Paul Merca photo) finished fifth overall in the heptathlon at the Mt. SAC Relays at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, scoring 5817 points.
The Spaniard, who was seventh at the break, opened the day with a combined events legal jump of 19-5.5 (5.93m, +2.1).
She then set a personal best in the javelin, throwing 146-11 (44.79m), then finished the day by running 2:21.75 in the 800.
Her mark is the second best in UW school history, behind Ida Eikeng's 6114 set two years ago.
În the decathlon, the Huskies' Jami Schlueter finished eighth with a final score of 7562 points.
Schlueter, who was seventh at the break, opened with a time of 14.64 in the 110 hurdles, then threw 134-3 (40.92m) in the discus.
He finished the pole vault with a best of 14-9 (4.50m), then threw the javelin 152-7 (46.51m), before ending the day with a time of 4:46.71 in the 1500.
In the only other event contested at Mt. SAC, Washington's Isaac Briggs won his section of the men's steeplechase, running 8:43.26, to take second overall.
In his section, Briggs ran down Washington State's Kelvin Limo over the last lap, finishing with a 63.33.
Limo was second in the section with a time of 8:51.47.
In the one field event contested at Mt. SAC, Washington alum Chandler Ault won the top section of the men's javelin with a throw of 231-1 (70.45m). Leonie Tröger, a grad transfer from Cincinnati, finished seventh for the Dawgs in the top section of the women's javelin with a best of 161-10 (49.33m).
The Huskies' Jack Olsen won the men's collegiate section of the javelin with a best of 216-3 (65.92m).
The main portion of the Mt. SAC Relays begins Friday.
NOTE: The Mt. SAC Relays, the sports information office of Long Beach State, and the Bryan Clay Invitational contributed to this report.
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