By: Jeff Evans, Director of Athletic Communications
STANFORD & SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Western Washington University Track & Field distance crew once again made a sizeable dent in the program record book with several top performances Friday at the Stanford Invitational and Mike Fanelli Track Classic.
Sophomore
Ila Davis ran a personal-best time in the 3,000m Steeplechase winning the first heat at the Stanford Invitational in 10:21.10. Davis, who placed 13th at the NCAA Division II Championships in the event last season, looks primed for another trip to nationals after running the No. 4 time in GNAC history at Cobb Track & Angell Field. Davis lowered her No. 2 time in WWU history and is nearing the school record of 10:13.01 set by Katelyn Steen in 2015. Davis entered the meet ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II and will likely move into the top spot ahead of the 10:24.54 by Natalie Graber of Grand Valley State.
Two weeks after four men's distance runners all recorded program top-10 times in the 10,000m at the Oregon Preview, the Vikings were back at it again this time in the 5,000m at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic at Cox Stadium on the San Francisco State University campus. The Viking foursome of
Kevin McDermott,
George Karamitsos,
Andrew Oslin and
Ryan Clough all notched top-10 times in WWU outdoor history. McDermott led the way running a time of 14:11.90 to move up to No. 2 in WWU history and No. 7 in GNAC history. Karamitsos ran 14:17.33 to rank No. 5 in program history, Oslin ran 14:22.73 for the No. 6 mark in WWU history and Clough ran 14:26.58 to rank No. 8. McDermott, Karamitsos and Oslin all ran below the NCAA II Provisional Qualifying time of 14:25.34.
Also at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic, sophomore
Mia Crocker gained sole possession of the No. 5 spot in WWU history in the 1500m with a time of 4:31.56 to gain an NCAA Provisional Qualifying mark. Teammate
Sophie Wright also competed fishing with 1500m time of 4:36.07. Freshman
Meaera Shannon set a personal-best in the 5000m with a time of 17:42.50.
A pair of indoor All-Americans competed in the men's 1500m at the Fanelli Classic, with sophomore
Drew Weber placing third in a time of 3:50.14, just missing the provisional qualifying mark. Sophomore
Will Henry placed 10th in the first section in 3:54.51.
At the Stanford Invitational, freshman
Maurice Woodring ran a personal-best time of 54.24 to place 12th and just miss a spot in the WWU all-time top-10. A pair of Vikings competed in the long jump, with senior
Seren Dances placing 8th with a top leap of 7.07m/23-2.5 for the top mark in the GNAC this season. Junior
Ryan Greenwalt placed 11th with a mark of 6.99m/22-11.25.
Sophomore
Jeret Gillingham wrapped up WWU's racing on Friday competing in the 3,000m Steeplechase at the Stanford Invitational. Gillingham placed 9th in the third section of the event in a time of 8:58.31, just missing his season PR of 8:55.62 set at the season opener that is currently No. 3 in NCAA Division II.
UP NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
Following the trip to the Bay Area, WWU is back in action next Saturday at the Emilie Mondor Invitational hosted by Simon Fraser University on April 8 in Burnaby, B.C.
VIKINGS RESULTS
Here is a detailed look at the results from WWU athletes that competed Friday at the Stanford Invitational and Mike Fanelli Track Classic:
Stanford Invitational:
Mike Fanelli Track Classic:
100 YEARS OF WWU T&F HISTORY
WWU is celebrating 100 years of the outdoor track & field program, with the varsity history of the program going all the way back to the first season in 1923. Track historian Paul Scovel researched and compiled a comprehensive history of the program in a document found online at
WWUVikings.com/TF.
THE HOME MEET
The 41st Ralph Vernacchia Invitational will be held on Saturday, April 29 at Civic Stadium in Bellingham. The complete 2023 WWU Track & Field schedule can be viewed online at
WWUVikings.com/TF.
