Huskies get 16 wins at Peyton-Shotwell Invitational to open 2026 outdoor season...
TACOMA--It was a sunny and comfortable day at Baker Stadium on the campus of the University of Puget Sound as it truly felt like the start of the 2026 outdoor track and field season, as a number of teams made their way for the Peyton-Shotwell Invitational.
While the University of Washington has had individuals compete in this meet in the past, it wasn't until this season that the Huskies committed as close to a full team to make the 45 minute trip from Montlake to T Town, despite the fact that it's spring break and that a good number of athletes went home for the break.
Those who stuck around campus over the break took the meet as an opportunity to get in an outdoor rust buster before the meat of the season gets started beginning next week with the majority headed to Stanford for the Stanford Invitational, plus the pole vault group heading to Texas for the Texas Relays in Austin.
On the day, the Huskies got 16 wins going up against essentially Division III competition, with a handful of Division II squads from Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin's.
Among the top performances of the day:
--Washington's Isaac Briggs (Paul Merca photo) set the tone in the men's steeplechase, as he ran 8:53.68 in essentially a solo effort, with teammate Cruize Corvin second in 8:57.57;
--The Huskies' Ava Washburn set a personal best in winning the women's long jump with a mark of 20-3.75 (6.19m);
--Hurdler Jonathan Frazier won both the 110 and 400 hurdles, running 14.68 and 51.66;
--Avril Wilson won the women's pole vault with a clearance of 13-3.5 (4.05m);
--Multi-event specialist Sofia Cosculluela won the 100 hurdles in 13.89, and came close to a personal best in the shot put, throwing 42-11.5 (13.09m), just off of her personal best of 43-1.5 (13.14m);
--In his return to his old home track, Washington's Alex Rhodes won the men's 200 in a meet and stadium record 20.83. Rhodes was the NCAA D3 indoor 400 champion at the University of Puget Sound last year, before transferring to UW;
--In one of the best races of the day, Central Washington's Elise Hopper (Paul Merca photo) caught the Huskies' Anna Terrell off the final hurdle to win the women's 400 hurdles in 60.01 to Terrell's 60.46. Central's Ellie DeGroot was third in 60.61.
Central Washington coach Jonathan Hill told publisher Paul Merca that he didn't intend to bring anyone over to Tacoma after their strong performance in Corvallis at the PNW Invitational, but had a change of heart.
JESSICA McCLAIN & ALLIE BUCHALSKI GO 2-3 AT THE TEN...
Former Brooks Beast Jessica McClain and current Beast Allie Buchalski went 2-3 in the top women's section of The Ten Saturday night at JSerra HS in San Juan Capistrano, California.
McClain ran 31:15.49, while Buchalski completed the 25-lap race in a personal best of 31:29.06.
2016 US Olympian Shelby Houlihan, competing in her debut performance over the distance, took the victory in a world leading time of 30:50.10.
Gonzaga alum Wil Smith was 24th in the top section of the men's 10000, finishing in 29:02.95. Germany's Mohamed Abdilaahi won in a world leading time of 26:56.58.
In the B section of the men's 10000, Washington alum Acer Iverson was fifth in 28:20.33.
Waleed Suliman of the Beasts finished second in the men's 1500, running 3:35.88, as he was nosed out by Ollie Hoare, who ran 3:35.82.
Matt Strangio was fourth in 3:36.53, just in front of teammate and Paris Olympian Brandon Miller's 3:37.14.
Teagan Schein-Becker of the Beasts was fourth in the women's 1500, as Gabi Jennings won in 4:07.69.
Washington alum Claire Yerby was fifth in 4:16.37.
NOTE: The sports information offices of the University of Puget Sound, the University of Washington, Central Washington, and Sound Running contributed to this report.
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