TACOMA, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field team got the weekend off to a great start, recording four program top-10 marks and three NCAA II Provisional Qualifying Marks during the first day of the Ed Boitano Invitational hosted by the University of Puget Sound.
 
The Vikings had seven entries in the men's 10,000m race held at Baker Stadium on the UPS campus, with Calahan Warren (Auburndale, FL/Embry-Riddle) recording the 3^rd-fastest time in WWU history in 29:55.17, becoming the 10^th runner in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history to crack the 30-minute mark in the event. Six days after recording the 2^nd-fastest 5,000m in program history in 14:16.17 last Saturday in Seattle, Warren now holds the early-season national leading marks in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, both good for NCAA II provisional qualifying marks.
 
Western had three runners record provisional marks in the 10K, all making entries into the program top-10 list in the event. Eric Hamel (Enumclaw, WA) placed 2^nd in 30:17.34 for the 6^th-best time in WWU history and Kevin McDermott (Port Orchard, WA/South Kitsap) was 4^th in 30:46.49 (10^th in WWU history).
 
Solomon Duke (Portland, OR/Franklin) was 6^th in 31:34.32 and Sean Sands (Pine, CO/Conifer) placed 8^th in 32:48.19.
 
WWU had three competitors in the women's hammer throw held at Pacific Lutheran University, with Raine Westfall (Port Angeles, WA/Crescent) placing 3^rd with a personal-best throw of 44.59m/146-3. Westfall's top throw came on the first attempt in the second round, and is the 7^th-best mark in WWU history. Mattison Crook (Des Moines, WA/Mount Rainier) placed 7^th (40.11m/131-7) and Katie Potts (Everett, WA/Glacier Peak) was 8^th (39.40m/129-3).
    The remainder of the track and field events at the Boitano Invitational will be held Saturday at Baker Stadium in Tacoma on the UPS campus. Competition starts with the women's high jump and men's 3,000m Steeplechase at 11 am. There will be no live results for this meet, but final results will be posted to WWUVikings.com/TF following the conclusion of all events.
  This meet is named after longtime University of Puget Sound Track & Field assistant coach Ed Boitano, who passed away in October 2016. He is heralded for his selflessness and dedication for UPS student-athletes. In addition to meet host UPS, Pacific Lutheran, Central Washington, Saint Martin's, Seattle Pacific, Multnomah, Green River CC, Everett CC and Western Washington are all competing.