BELLINGHAM, Wash. – In a day highlighted by 17 event wins, 14 entries into the program top-10 record book and four national provisional qualifying marks, the Western Washington University Track & Field team completed a successful (and dominating) performance at the WWU Invitational held Saturday at Civic Stadium.
 
"What a great day to host a home meet and our student-athletes went out there and put up so many outstanding marks," said WWU Track & Field head coach Pee Wee Halsell. "Personal-bests, qualifying marks, record-book entries and a school record. What a great day to be a Viking."
 
While the day had several highlights and personal-best marks, it was the blur of a 1500m ran by Calahan Warren that headlined WWU's first home meet in nearly two years. Warren, a senior transfer from Embry-Riddle, recorded his third national qualifying mark of the young season (also the 10,000m and 5,000m) with a school-record time of 3:44.82. Warren broke the 21-year-old record previously set by WWU Hall of Famer Devin Kemper in 2000 by nearly 2 seconds. Warren's mark is not only the fastest in WWU history, but No. 3 all-time in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and currently the 2^nd-fastest time in NCAA II this season.
 
Senior Karlie Hurley was a double winner on the women's side, recording the top marks in both the long jump and triple jump. Hurley's leap of 12.04m/39-6 in the triple jump move up to No. 3 in WWU history, entered the GNAC record book at No. 10 and established a NCAA II provisional qualifying mark that is currently in the top 20 in the nation.
 

Senior Hannah Nienaber improved her personal best and national provisional qualifying mark for the third consecutive week while winning the javelin competition. Nienaber, the two-time GNAC Women's Field Athlete of the Week, recorded the 10^th-best mark in WWU history at 47.08m/154-5, currently the 4^th-best throw in NCAA II and No. 16 all-time in GNAC history. Junior Natalie Vetto placed 2^nd and recorded a provisional mark with a throw of 42.06m/138-0.
  In addition to the big performances by Karlie Hurley and Hannah Nienaber, the Viking women recorded six event wins, 11 record book entries and three national qualifying marks.
 
The throwers had a banner day, with the hammer throw providing three personal-best throws and three WWU top-10 entries. Freshman Raine Westfall placed 2^nd in in the competition with a throw of 47.39m/155-6 to move up to No. 5 in WWU history. Freshmen Mattison Crook (No. 8, 43.39m/142-4) and Katie Potts (No. 10, 43.12m/141-6) also recorded top-10 marks.
 
In addition to the big leap by Karlie Hurley in the triple jump, there were three total entries into the top-10 record book. Junior Devon Olson recorded a personal-best jump of 11.76m/38-7 for the 5^th-best mark in WWU history and currently in the top 25 nationally. Sophomore Jamie Sanford moved up to 10^th in program history with a jump of 11.35m/37-3.
 
Freshman Jessica Neal won the high jump clearing 1.66m/5-5.25 for the 10^th-best mark in program history.
 
Also registering event wins were freshman Sienna Taylor in the 5,000m (18:38.00) and freshman Katie Potts in the shot put (12.71m/41-8.5). Junior Hannah Dodson placed 2^nd in the pole vault clearing 3.52m/11-6.5 for the 10^th-best mark in WWU outdoor history.
  In addition to the school-record 1500m by Calahan Warren, junior Mac Franks entered the WWU top-10 in the event with a time of 3:52.93 to rank No. 8 in program history. Franks also won the 800m in 1:56.30.
 
Senior Ben Malquist was a double winner in the shot put and the discus, improving her personal-best mark in the shot with a throw of 16.04m/52-7.5 for the No. 5 mark in WWU history.
 
Senior Cordell Cummings, a six-time GNAC hurdles champion, won the 400m hurdles in 53.96 and placed 2^nd in the 110m hurdles in 14.85.
 
Sophomore Ethan Sterkel was also a double winner in the high jump (1.91m/6-3.25) and the long jump (6.50m/21-4).
 
Additional event winners included freshman Kacey Provo in the pole vault (4.46m/14-7.5), freshman Damian Mercado in the triple jump (13.20m/43-3.75), senior David Tran in the 100m (11.04) and sophomore Jaydon Tryon in the javelin (53.54m/175-8).
 
The Vikings had two entries in the 4x400 relay, with freshman Lucas Brenek, sophomore Mark Daniels, freshman Kale Engebretsen and freshman Tyrone Woodard winning the event in 3:25.88.
    Following the WWU Invitational this weekend, the Vikings will be in action at a pair of meets next weekend. A large contingent is scheduled to travel to Monmouth, Oregon for the two-day John Knight Twilight on Friday and Saturday (April 9-10), with additional team members scheduled to compete Saturday at the PLU Invitational in Tacoma.
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.