TACOMA, Wash. – Led by three event wins the Western Washington University Track & Field program opened the 2022 outdoor season Friday and Saturday at the Ed Boitano Invitational at Baker Stadium on the University of Puget Sound campus.
 
Senior Amanda Short recorded an NCAA II provisional qualifying mark winning the javelin competition with a throw of 43.26m/141-11. The season-opening throw is already better than her season-high mark from 2021 that earned her a third-place finish at the GNAC Outdoor Championships.
 
Sophomore Taliah Coe won the discus with a throw of 38.35m/125-10 and freshman Raine Westfall won the hammer throw on Friday with a heave of 46.50m/152-6.
 
Sophomore Ryan Witters the men's squad placing 2nd in the 200m (23.22) and 3rd in the 100m (11.73). Sophomore Jaydon Tryon (50.97m/167-02) and freshman Sean Witters (50.08m/164-03) finished 2-3 in the javelin.
  Here is a look at who is competed Friday and Saturday for the Vikings at the Ed Boitano Invitational:
 
Friday:

• Raine Westfall – Hammer Throw (1st, 46.50m/152-6)
• Katie Potts – Hammer Throw (5th, 41.15m/135-0)
• Carmen Cleveland-Barrera – Hammer Throw (13th, 28.76m/94-4)
• Sean Sands – 10,000m (4th, 31:30.26)
• Quinn Wilcox – 10,000m (5th, 31:57.60)
• Jerrod Lee – Hammer Throw (6th, 44.70m/146-8)
• Kevin McDermott – 10,000m (6th, 32:07.43)
• Alec Ritter – 10,000m (7th, 32:28.08)
• Jared Alderfer – 10,000m (10th, 33:01.07)

Saturday:

• Amanda Short – Javelin (1st, 43.26m/141-11)
• Taliah Coe – Discus (1st, 38.35m/125-10)
• Annie Tran – Pole Vault (2nd, 3.33m/10-11)
• Ryan Witters – 200m (2nd, 23.22), 100m (3rd, 11.73)
• Jaydon Tryon – Javelin (2nd, 50.97m/167-02)
• Kale Engebretsen – 400m Hurdles (3rd, 1:00.02)
• Sean Witters – Javelin (3rd, 50.08m/164-03)
• Kaylee Coble – Pole Vault (5th, 3.03m/9-11.25)
• Sonny Chhim – 400m (5th, 53.75)
• Brian Le – 800m (7th, 2:03.84)
• Tyrel Halme – Pole Vault (7th, 3.57m/11-8.50)
• Denzel Pinto – 800m (10th, 2:04.86)
• Kacey Provo – Pole Vault (NH)
• Alexandra Dorn – Pole Vault (NH)

WWU will be right back in action next weekend at the PLU Invitational in Tacoma. A pair of Vikings – Mac Franks (Mile, 800m) and Beau Sheeran (High Jump) – will also be in action March 11-12 at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Pittsburg, Kansas.
  The Boitano Invitational kicks off a busy spring schedule for the Vikings, who are the two-time defending GNAC men's outdoor champions and the women's team is coming off a runner-up finish in 2021. The Vikings are scheduled to host a pair of Saturday home events at Civic Stadium during the season with the WWU Team Invitational on April 2 and the Ralph Vernacchia Track & Field Meet on April 30. WWU will also host the GNAC Combined Championships May 2-3.
  The Viking men not only recorded its third straight team title winning the 2021 GNAC Indoor Championships (2019, 2020, 2022), but also the program's seventh all-time for the most in conference history. Dating back to the 2019 season, WWU has won the last five GNAC Track & Field team titles with three indoor trophies and two outdoor championships (2019, 2021).