SEATTLE, Wash. – A pair of program records and six top-10 marks highlighted the performances by the Western Washington University Track & Field program Saturday at the UW Indoor Preview at Dempsey Indoor.
Junior
Mac Franks set the WWU indoor record in the 3,000m in a time of 8:14.59 (placing 19th out of 50 competitors), bettering the previous school record of 8:16.73 set by Ed Kiolbasa during the 2020 season. Franks' mark in the 3,000m also enters the Great Northwest Athletic Conference record book at No. 9 and is currently No. 5 in NCAA Division II as a provisional qualifying mark. Franks also competed in the mile placing 17th out of 36 runners in 4:08.41 for the No. 3 mark in WWU history (No. 6 in NCAA II).
Sophomore
Raine Westfall set the WWU record in the weight throw placing 4th out of 13 competitors with a throw of 15.20m/49-10.5. She bettered the previous program mark of 14.85m/48-8.75 set by Lindsey Wells in 2013.
Junior
Ethan Sterkel was the top collegiate finisher in the high jump clearing 2.00m/6-6.75 and won the long jump with a leap of 7.19m/23-.7.25 for an NCAA II provisional qualifying mark. Through competition Saturday, Sterkel's long jump mark is No. 17 in NCAA Division II.
Freshman
Mia Crocker placed 3rd in the 800m clocking the No. 8 time in WWU indoor history in 2:20.16.
Additional program top-10 marks recorded by the Vikings included
Jasmine Kaufman in the shot put (No. 4, 12.08m/39-7.75) and
Kevin McDermott in the 3,000m (No. 5, 8:19.37).
NEXT UP FOR THE VIKINGS
The WWU Track & Field team returns to action in two weeks at the two-day UW Invitational held January 28-29 at Dempsey Indoor. The full 2021-22 WWU Indoor Track & Field schedule (in addition to the tentative outdoor schedule) can be viewed online at
wwuvikings.com/TF.
