VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Western Washington University Track & Field team wrapped up the first day of competition at the UBC Open on Saturday.

 

WWU recorded six total event wins to open the two-day meet hosted by the University of British Columbia at Rashpal Dhillon Track and Field Oval.

 

Junior Katie Potts was a double winner in the shot put (13.07m/42-10.75) and discus (44.27m/145-3), moving up to No. 5 in WWU history in the discus with her personal-best mark. Freshman Elie Bassett won the 800m in a personal-best time of 2:17.21 and freshman Emmy Kroontje was second in 2:17.77. Freshman Anna Miller finished runner-up in the 400m in a personal-best time of 58.99.

 

Sophomore Nolan Mickenham won the 100m race in 10.93 and sophomore Brien Le was second in the 200m in 22.35. Senior Seren Dances also recorded the win in the long jump with a mark of 6.74m/22-1.5.

 

Western placed six in the top nine in the men's 1500m, with sophomore Kevin McDermott placing second in a time of 3:50.91 just behind former Viking All-American Calahan Warren (3:50.85). Freshman Maurice Woodring finished second in the 400m (54.67), freshman Manu Greenlee was second in the high jump (1.85m/6-0.75) and sophomore Miller Campbell recorded a pair of second-place finishes in the discus (37.22m/122-1) and hammer throw (53.93m/176-11). Freshman Angelo Ramos added a second-place finish in the shot put (13.37m/43-10.5).

 

WWU made its outdoor debut in the multis, with freshman Nicole Avery in second place through the first three events of the women's heptathlon (seven events) with 1,547 points and freshman Austin Seals leading the men's decathlon at the midway point with 2,816 points. Sophomore Ryan Kenny is third in the decathlon through the first five events with 2,508 points.

 

The final day of the UBC Open is scheduled to start at 10 am with the men's decathlon 110m hurdles. Live results can be followed online at wwuvikings.com/TF_Live.

 

Top Women's Results:

• 100m: Caitlyn Cheney, 4th (12.39)
• 400m: Anna Miller, 2nd (58.99)
• 800m: Elie Bassett, 1st (2:17.21); Emmy Kroontje, 2nd (2:18.77)
• 100m Hurdles: Isabella Porter, 2nd (16.09)
• 400m Hurdles: Isabella Porter, 3rd (1:08.63)
• Pole Vault: Annie Tran, 3rd (3.35m/10-11.75)
• Shot Put: Katie Potts, 1st (13.07m/42-10.75); Mara Parks, 4th (11.77m/38-7.5)
• Discus: Katie Potts, 1st (44.27m/145-3)
• Hammer Throw: Raine Westfall, 3rd (50.51m/165-8)

 

Top Men's Results:

• 100m: Nolan Mickenham, 1st (10.93); Noah Johnson, 3rd (11.04) – four of top eight.
• 200m: Brien Le, 1st (22.35); Ryan Greenwalt, 4th (22.96)
• 400m: Will Henry, 5th (50.79); Drew Weber, 6th (50.90) – four of top eight.
• 1500m: Calahan Warren, 1st (3:50.85); Kevin McDermott, 2nd (3:50.91); Drew Weber, 3rd (3:51.40) – six in top 9
• 5000m: Eric Anthony Souza-Ponce, 7th (14:44.38) – WWU debut
• 400m Hurdles: Maurice Woodring, 2nd (54.67); Sean Martelles, 3rd (56.43)
• High Jump: Manu Greenlee, 2nd (1.85m/6-0.75)
• Long Jump: Seren Dances, 1st (6.74m/22-1.5)
• Discus: Miller Campbell, 2nd (37.22m/122-1); Nathan Simicich, 3rd (36.35m/119-3)
• Hammer Throw: Miller Campbell, 2nd (53.93m/176-11)
• Shot Put: Angelo Ramos, 2nd (13.37m/43-10.5); Nathan Simicich, 3rd (12.65m/41-6)

 

At the Aztec Invitational in San Diego, junior Marian Ledesma lowered her season-best mark in the 800m finishing in 9th place out of 31 runners with a time of 2:12.54. The mark remains at No. 2 in WWU history, nearing the record of 2:11.45 set by Rachael Johnson in 2011. Ledesma's personal-best mark in the event is 2:07.31 set during the 2022 season while competing at Azusa Pacific University.

 

Freshman Alanna Parker competed Friday night in the 5,000m at the Mangrum Invitational hosted by Cal State San Marcos. The Spokane native placed 5th with a personal-best time of 8:19.37 to rank 6th in the GNAC this season in the event.

 

The Vikings return to action next week with a contingent of student-athletes traveling to Northern California to compete in the Mike Fanelli Track Classic (March 30-April 1) and the Stanford Invitational (March 31-April 1). WWU was set to also compete in the PLU Open on April 1, but the meet was canceled. The complete 2023 WWU Track & Field schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/TF.