SPOKANE, Wash. – The fourth-fastest mile in Western Washington University indoor track & field history highlighted the Vikings performances during the final day of the WSU Open and Invitational at The Podium.
 
Sophomore Kevin McDermott recorded an NCAA II provisional qualifying time of 4:10.37 to move into the No. 4 spot in the WWU indoor record book. The Port Orchard native placed 8th out of 20 runners in the meet.
 
Junior Mac Franks placed 4th in the 800m with a time of 1:52.50 and junior Ethan Sterkel was 3rd out of 11 competitors in the long jump (7.15m/23-5.5).
 
Here is a rundown of the Vikings performances on Saturday with seven student-athletes competing during the final day of the WSU Invitational.
  Sophomore Kevin McDermott clocked the 4th-fastest mile in WWU indoor history placing 8th out of 20 runners in a time of 4:10.37. Sophomore teammate Drew Weber was 16th in 4:19.14.
  Junior Mac Franks turned in another solid performance in the 800m, placing 4th out of 19 runners with a time of 1:52.50. His season/career-best mark of 1:51.47 set at the UW Invitational on January 28 is currently in the top 15 in the nation for NCAA Division II.
  Junior Ethan Sterkel placed 3rd out of 11 competitors in the long jump with a top mark of 7.15m/23-5.5. Sophomore Ryan Greenwalt also had a solid leap of 6.75m/22-1.75 to place 8th in the field.
  Senior Bryant Welch finished 10th out of 17 runners running the third-fastest indoor 400m of his WWU career in 49.13. He was close to his PR of 49.01 set at the 2018 GNAC Indoor Championships, a mark that is No. 3 in program history.
  Senior Ben Malquist recorded a season PR of 15.72m/51-7 on his final throw to place 11th out of 16 competitors. His previous best season mark of 15.38m/50-5.5 was the GNAC leading mark entering the weekend.
  Here is a look at the performances by the Vikings during the WSU Open & Invitational that recorded a top-10 mark in program indoor history:
 
WWU Top-10 Performances at WSU Open & Invitational (Friday and Saturday):

• Kevin McDermott – Mile, 4:10.37 (4th in WWU history, NCAA Provisional Mark)
• Distance Medley Relay – Men, 9:50.82 (School Record)
• Beau Sheeran – High Jump, 2.00m/6-6.75 (Tied for 6th in WWU history)
• Lucas Brenek – 200m, 22.31 (Tied for 7th in WWU history)
• Sophie Wright – 800m, 2:21.87 (10th in WWU history)

  The WWU Track & Field team is back in action next weekend (Feb. 11-12) at the two-day UW Classic held at Dempsey Indoor in Seattle. The UW Classic will serve as final preparations for the GNAC Indoor Championships that will be held February 21-22 (Monday-Tuesday) at The Podium in Spokane. The full 2021-22 WWU Indoor Track & Field schedule (in addition to the tentative outdoor schedule) can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/TF.