April 15, 2016 ALL OVER THE WEST COAST - Western Washington University senior sprinter Alex Donigian beat a world-record holder in the 100m and set a school and conference record in the 200m to highlight a busy day for the Track & Field program and four meets spread across the west coast on Friday.
The Vikings competed in the Mt. Sac Relays (Norwalk, CA), Bryan Clay Invitational (Azusa, CA), The Beach Invitational (Long Beach, CA) and the Oregon Relays (Eugene, OR) to continue the busiest weekend of the outdoor Track & Field season.
Donigian (Mission Viejo, CA/Trabuco Hills/Saddleback JC/Northern Colorado) finished 3rd out of 86 racers in the 100m at the Bryan Clay Invitational in a wind-legal PR of 10.37. He notably beat decathlon world record holder Ashton Eaton in the race by 1/100th, a feat that was picked up by FloTrack. Donigian then crushed his own school record (previously 21.42) and set a Great Northwest Athletic Conference record in 20.93. The senior became only fifth NCAA DII athlete to record a sub 22.00 200m this season.
WWU's javelin throwers dominated the Bryan Clay Invitational placing four in the top eight in the meet. Junior Bethany Drake (Sandy, OR) placed 2nd with a throw of 47.74m (156' 7") trailing only 2015 NCAA II champion Allison Updike of Azusa Pacific (53.61m). Senior Katie Reichert (Longview, WA/Kelso) was 3rd with a throw of 47.36m and freshman Mariah Horton (Castle Rock, WA/Kelso) and Anosi Laupola (Port Orchard, WA/South Kitsap) were 5th and 8th respectively.
A pair of WWU distance runner were separated by 4/100th in the 1,500m at the Oregon Relays in Eugene. Junior Shawna Troupe (Kelso, WA) placed 20th in a time of 4:35.86 for the 6th-fastest time in WWU history and junior Kali Klotz-Brooks (Cheney, WA) was right behind her in 4:35.90 for the 7th-fastest time in WWU Track & Field history.
Additional highlights of the day included the following:
Mt. Sac Relays [Results | Video ]// Norwalk, CA (Cerritos College):
Bryan Clay Invitational [Results ]// Azusa, CA (Cougar Stadium):
- Alex Donigian, 100m - 3rd, 10.37 (wind-legal PR) & 200m - 4th, 20.93 (WWU & GNAC record)
- Bethany Drake, Javelin - 2nd, 47.74m/156' 7"
- Katie Reichert, Javelin - 3rd, 47.36m/155' 4"
- Mariah Horton, Javelin - 5th, 44.68m/146' 7"
- Anosi Laupola, Javelin - 8th, 43.02m/141' 1"
- Nate van Tuinen, Long Jump - 19th, 6.76m/22' 2.25"
- John Haskin, Javelin - 12th, 57.36m/188' 2"
- Brandon Pless, Discus - 18th, 44.24m/145' 1"
- Mark Seely, Triple Jump - 11th, 14.06m/46' 1.5"
- Kevin Yates, Long Jump - 8th, 7.02m/23' .5"
- Gordie Kordas, Pole Vault - 7th, 4.76m/15' 7.25" (T7th in WWU history)
- Jacob Hino, Pole Vault - 15th, 4.46m/14' 7.5"
- J.T. Konrad, Pole Vault - 13th, 4.61m/15' 1.5"
- Megan Mortensen, Shot Put (16th, 12.31m/40' 4.75") & Discus (Foul)
- Anna Paradee, Pole Vault - 8th, 3.61m/11' 10"
- Miranda Osadchey, High Jump - 6th, 1.65m/5' 5"
- Deja Svastisalee, 400 Hurdles - 32nd, 1:04.59
Oregon Relays [Live Results| Entries]// Eugene, OR (Hayward Field):
- Shawna Troupe, 1500m - 20th in 4:35.86 (6th-best in WWU history)
- Kali Klotz-Brooks, 1500m - 21st in 4:35.90 (7th-best in WWU history)
- Brittany Grant, 3000m Steeplechase - 6th in 10:52.48 (4th-best in WWU history)
- Taylor Guenther, 5000m - 11th, 17:04.68 (4th-best in WWU history)
- Lillianna Stelling, 5000m - 13th, 17:16.50 (8th-best in WWU history)
- Tracy Melville, 5000m - 18th, 17:43.38 (10th-best in WWU history)
- Alex Laiblin, 5000m - 21st, 18:13.63
- Noah Ripley, 3000m Steeplechase - 13th in 9:39.79
- Dylan Hayes, 5000m - 10th (B section) in 15:12.74
The Beach Invitational [Results]// Long Beach, CA (Jack Rose Track):
- Brandon Pless, Hammer Throw - 27th with mark of 54.43m/178' 7" (3rd-best in WWU history)
- Andrew Wise, 5000m - 8th in 15:01.72
Competition will continue for several WWU athletes tomorrow at The Beach Invitational and a few at the Oregon Relays. Donigian is scheduled to race in the 100m at the Mt. Sac Relays as well.
