SEATTLE, Wash. – A record-breaking performance by Kevin McDermott in the men's 5000m race highlighted the Western Washington University Track & Field performances Friday during the first day of the UW Invitational at Dempsey Indoor.

 

Just shy of 13 years since Jordan Welling ran 14:11.10 at the Husky Classic in 2011, McDermott smashed WWU's indoor record and became the third Great Northwest Athletic Conference runner to crack the 14-minute mark in the 5000m. McDermott clocked 13:50.77 for one of the fastest times in NCAA Division II this season and all but assuring a spot at nationals with his record-breaking mark. His time was well below the NCAA II provisional qualifying mark of 14:26.38. McDermott continued his 2023-24 surge that resulted in winning the GNAC Cross Country individual title and ran the 2nd-fastest 3000m time in program history two weeks ago at the UW Preview.

 

McDermott's school record highlighted seven program top-10 marks during the first day of the UW Invitational.

 

Sophomore distance runner Ashley Reeck placed 15th in the 5000m in a time of 17:06.33 to move up to No. 3 in WWU indoor history. Junior sprinter Caitlyn Cheney ran a PR in the 200m placing 10th in 25.53 for the No. 4 time in WWU history.

 

Senior sprinter Ryan Greenwalt finished 4th in the men's 200m in 22.26 to tie for the 7th-best time in program history, just two weeks after running the 2nd-fastest 60m time at the UW Preview (6.87). Junior Hunter Flick looks primed to track down his school record in the 60m hurdles after placing 3rd in the event in 8.16, just short of his PR of 8.07 set in 2022.

 

The UW Invitational wraps up competition Saturday with track and field events beginning at 9 am, with the Mile City Competition beginning at 1 pm. Results are available online at wwuvikings.com/TF_Live. 
 

 

Here is a breakdown of results for WWU competitors from Friday's competition at the UW Invitational:

 

Women's Results:

60m Hurdles (Prelims): Naomi Bates (30th, 9.49), Brooke Mansfield (33rd, 9.61), Isabella Porter (39th, 10.09), Matty Lagerwey (41st, 10.70)

200m: Caitlyn Cheney (10th, 25.53), Annabelle Heiman (21st, 26.12), Hannah Polkinghorn (26th, 26.27), Brooke Mansfield (29th, 26.39), Isabella Porter (44th, 27.10), Naomi Bates (50th, 27.29)

3000m: Ila Davis (42nd, 9:51.86), 

5000m: Ashley Reeck (15th, 17:06.33), Meaera Nystrom (27th, 18:01.22), Laura Halsell (28th, 18:05.23), Emma Smith (30th, 18:09.03), Kendall Carter (18:23.89), Kayla Ramsey (18:27.60)

High Jump: Kora Cook (16th, 1.55m/5-1)

Weight Throw: Katie Potts (11th, 15.52m/50-11), Mara Parks (18th, 14.34m/47-0), Dorothy Franklin (29th, 11.62m/38-1)

 

Men's Results:

60m Hurdles (Prelims): Hunter Flick (Q, 6th, 8.22), Jaden Edwards (16th, 8.66), Rickey Bishop (21st, 9.74)

60m Hurdles (Finals): Hunter Flick (3rd, 8.16)

200m: Ryan Greenwalt (4th, 22.26), Brian Le (8th, 22.35), Maurice Woodring (10th, 22.49), Austin Seals (19th, 23.20), Anouthai Vongphet (24th, 23.40), Jaden Johnson (25th, 23.43), Jaden Edwards (26th, 23.50), Ethan Hong (27th, 23.83), Jaelin McQueen (36th, 25.36)

3000m: George Karamitsos (47th, 8:21.04), Sam Lingwall (63rd, 8:30.96), Logan Werner (74th, 8:38.99), Jeret Gillingham (84th, 8:47.72)

5000m: Kevin McDermott (3rd, 13:50.77), Ryan Clough (20th, 14.36.32), Sten Brakstad (26th, 14:50.69), Andrew Oslin (29th, 14:58.65)

Triple Jump: Troy Roberson (9th, 13.37m/43-10.5), Mikko Laulainen (10th, 13.12m/43-0.5)

High Jump: Manu Greenlee (T5th, 1.90m/6-2.75), Austin Seals (12th, 1.85m/6-0.75), Trent Kibler (13th, 1.85m/6-0.75)

Weight Throw: Angelo Ramos (5th, 17.42m/57-2), Miller Campbell (9th, 16.30m/53-5)

 

The UW Invitational wraps up competition Saturday with field and running events beginning at 9 am at Dempsey Indoor on the University of Washington campus. The Mile City Invitational wraps up Saturday's competition beginning at 1 pm with several Vikings competing in the race.

 

The Vikings will have another gap between indoor events next participating in the two-day Husky Classic held February 9-10 at Dempsey Indoor. WWU will then turn its attention to the GNAC Indoor Championships that will take place February 19-20 at The Podium in Spokane.