TACOMA, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field team wrapped up competition Saturday during the second day of the Ed Boitano Invitational Baker Stadium.
 
Several entries into the WWU All-Time top-10 list and nine event wins by the men highlighted the two-day meet.
 
"Another good meet for the Vikings," said WWU head coach Pee Wee Halsell, who is in his 34^th season leading the program. "We had three new national provisional marks by our men's distance runners and an improved mark in the javelin. All around solid marks by the team, showing improvements and lots of great spirit."
  The men's squad won the team competition in a landslide with 266 points, bettering 2nd-place Central Washington, highlighted by eight event wins (seven on Saturday).
 
Koby Okezie (Tacoma, WA/Todd Beamer) won the 110m Hurdles in a personal-best time of 14.86 for the 8^th-best mark in program history. WWU took the top three spots in the 100m Hurdles, with Hunter Flick (La Verne, CA/Bonita) 2^nd in 15.21 and Cordell Cummings (Lake Stevens, WA/Arlington) in 3^rd at 15.42. Cummings won the 400m Hurdles in 54.13 as he looks to chase down the program record of 51.74 set by Mike Vorce in 73 (Cummings is No. 2 with a PR of 51.77).
 
Lukas Brenek made his Western debut winning the 400m in 49.52, followed closely by Bryant Welch (Burien, WA/Mount Rainier) in 49.61.
 
After winning the 10,000m Friday night, Calahan Warren (Auburndale, FL/Embry-Riddle) won the 800m in 1:55.88 to rank just outside the WWU top-10.
 
Transfer Kaleb Korta (Galena, AK) won the 3,000m Steeplechase in 9:19.40, just missing a spot on the WWU all-time top-10 list.
 
Also earning event wins were Damian Mercado (Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma) in the high jump (1.90m/6-2.75), Kacey Provo (Auburn, WA/Auburn Mountainview) in the pole vault (4.55m/14-5.25) and Mason Salley (Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap) in the javelin (54.73m/179-7).
 
Ben Malquist (Bellingham, WA/Sehome) was also 2^nd in the shot put with a top throw of 15.74m/51-7.75 and Sean Witters (Bothell, WA) finished 2^nd in the javelin (50.40m/165-4). Noah Johnson (Bellingham, WA) placed 3^rd in the 100m (11.44) and Ian Fay (Duvall, WA/Cedarcrest) made his return to the track placing 3^rd in the 1500m (4:07.57).
  Hannah Nienaber (Battle Ground, WA/Prairie) recorded a top throw of 45.43m/149-0 to win the field of 15 competitors in the javelin, improving her NCAA II provisional qualifying mark. The reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference Field Athlete of the Week threw 44.61m/146-4 last week.
 
Senior transfer Karlie Hurley (North Bend, WA/Mount Si/Concordia-OR) won the triple jump with a mark of 11.51m/37-9.25 to move into 7^th in program history. Hurley also finished 4^th in the 200 meters in 25.47 to rank 10^th in into the WWU outdoor record book, a week after running the 10^th-best 400m time (57.62).
 
Several Viking women placed in the top four in their events, including Aliyah Dawkins (North Mankato, MN/Mankato West) in the 100 hurdles finishing 2^nd with a personal-best time of 15.49. Dawkins also placed 3^rd in the long jump with a top leap of 5.32m/17-5.5.
 
Jessica Neal (Lacey, WA/Timberline) finished 2^nd in the high jump (1.60m/5-3) and Lexi Perry (Arlington, WA/Lakewood) was also 2^nd in the pole vault (3.45m/11-3.75). Devon Olson (Bothell, WA/Inglemoor) placed 2^nd in the triple jump (11.24m/36-10.5) and Amanda Short (Lebanon, OR) placed 3^rd in the javelin (40.43m/132-8).
  Friday's highlights included 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 10,000m. After recording the 2^nd-fastest 5,000m in program history in 14:16.17 last Saturday in Seattle, Warren now holds No. 6 mark in the 5,000m and No. 8 in the 10,000m in NCAA II, both good for provisional qualifying marks.
 
Western had three total 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).
  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.
  The Vikings will host the first of two meets at Civic Stadium in Bellingham on April 3. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Great Northwest Athletic Conference protocol, no non-team personnel or spectators will be allowed inside the venue at Civic Field.
  The Vikings will be racing and competing with heavy hearts in 2021, the first time in over 35 years that Bill Roe has not had a presence with the program. The legendary Track & Field figure passed away in February 2020, leaving behind a huge legacy in the WWU program. The WWU Cross Country Classic will be named in Bill's honor in Fall 2021, but the 2021 track season is also dedicated to the person that gave so much to the track & field community.