ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field team got a preview of the upcoming GNAC Championships competing in the CWU Wildcat Invitational held Saturday at the CWU Recreation Sports Complex.

 

The Vikings recorded nine program top 10 marks, one school record and had 32 podium finishes competing on the same venue that will serve as the host of the conference championships May 10-11. Western recorded 10 event wins during the all-day competition on the CWU campus.

 

The men's 4x100 relay team broke the school record for the second time this season, clocking 41.11 seconds with Ryan Greenwalt, Ethan Johnson, Nolan Mickenham and Lucas Brenek forming the record-breaking relay. The women's 4x100 relay team of Caitlyn Cheney, Annabelle Heiman, Anna Miller and Hannah Polkinghorn ran the 2nd-fastest time in program history in 46.99.

 

Senior Lucas Brenek finished 2nd in the 400m running a personal-best time of 41.13 to move up to No. 4 in WWU history. 

 

Ellensburg native Caitlyn Cheney finished 3rd in the 200m breaking the 25-second mark for the first time in her career with a PR time of 24.88 to rank 5th in program history.

 

Sophomore Jakob Braunstein won the javelin competition with a season-best throw of 61.88m/203-0 to improve his NCAA II provisional qualifying mark and enter the WWU record book at No. 9.

 

Additional men's event wins included Brian Le in the 100m (10.80), Sam Lingwall in the 1500m (3:59.28), Ian Eifert in the 3000m Steeplechase (9:26.12), Mikko Laulainen in the triple jump (12.87m/42-2.75), and Liam Wall in the discus (48.47m/159-0).

 

Women's event winners included Mia Crocker in the 800m (2:18.06), Evelyn Collins-Winn in the 3000m Steeplechase (11:13.34) and Hannah Polkinghorn in the long jump (5.37m/17-7.5).
 

 

Here is a breakdown of results for WWU competitors on Saturday at the CWU Wildcat Invitational:

 

Men's Results:

100m: Brian Le (1st, 10.80), Ethan Johnson (2nd, 10.82), Jaden Johnson (10th, 11.43), Jaden Edwards (21st, 11.89)

200m: Brian Le (3rd, 21.96), Ryan Greenwalt (5th, 22.02), Jaden Johnson (10th, 22.79), Jaded Edwards (15th, 23.66)

400m: Lucas Brenek (2nd, 48.13)

800m: Donagh Palmer (9th, 1:59.37), Eduardo Tobon Sanchez (11th, 1:59.89), Jalen Javurek (12th, 1:59.91)

1500m: Sam Lingwall (1st, 3:59.28), Eric Anthony Souza-Ponce (2nd, 3:59.71), George Fernandez (7th, 4:06.54), Eduardo Tobon Sanchez (8th, 4:07.75), Donagh Palmer (9th, 4:09.22)

3000m Steeplechase: Ian Eifert (1st, 9:26.12), Jared Alderfer (2nd, 9:30.09), Ethan Bursch (3rd, 9:47.63), Diego Rodriguez (4th, 9:51.02), Matthew Salazar (5th, 10:12.93)

110m Hurdles: Jaden Edwards (3rd, 15.08)

4x100 Relay: 2nd, 41.11 (Greenwalt, Mickenham, Johnson, Fisher)

High Jump: Manu Greenlee (2nd, 1.93m/6-4), Gabe Menicke (9th, 1.78m/5-10), Ryan Kenny (10th, 1.78m/5-10)

Long Jump: Gabe Menicke (4th, 6.49m/21-3.5), Anouthai Vongphet (5th, 6.48m/21-3.25), Ryan Kenny (7th, 6.14m/20-1.75)

Triple Jump: Mikko Laulainen (1st, 12.87m/42-2.75)

Shot Put: Noah Turner (2nd, 15.17m/49-9.25), Angelo Ramos (3rd, 14.99m/49-2.25), Nathan Simicich (4th, 13.87m/45-6.25), Liam Wall (8th, 13.35m/43-9.75)

Discus: Liam Wall (1st, 48.47m/159-0), Noah Turner (6th, 42.47m/139-4), Nathan Simicich (11th, 38.09m/124-11)

Hammer Throw: Miller Campbell (2nd, 53.80m/176-6), Angelo Ramos (3rd, 53.18m/174-5), Nathan Simicich (8th, 44.33m/145-5)

Javelin: Jakob Braunstein (1st, 61.88m/203-0), Sean Witters (2nd, 57.33m/188-1), Max Berger (5th, 49.49m/162-4)

 

Women's Results:

100m: Hannah Polkinghorn (3rd, 12.43), Anna Miller (6th, 12.83), Kennedy Cook (9th, 13.03), Isabella Porter (11th, 13.20)

200m: Caitlyn Cheney (3rd, 24.88), Annabelle Heiman (4th, 25.36), Kennedy Cook (6th, 25.42), Anna Miller (8th, 25.79), Karma Walker (20th, 27.39)

800m: Mia Crocker (1st, 2:18.06), Delphine Maurer (5th, 2:32.81)

1500m: Laura Halsell (5th, 4:58.86), Delphine Maurer (9th, 5:10.23)

3000m Steeplechase: Evelyn Collins-Winn (1st, 11:13.34), Elie Bassett (2nd, 11:39.82), Jill Philbin (4th, 12:29.77)

5000m: Ila Davis (2nd, 17:48.79), Mia Crocker (3rd, 18:02.68)

100m Hurdles: Naomi Bates (10th, 16.22), Karma Walker (13th, 17.07), Nicole Avery (14th, 17.56) Cassandra Schulberg (17th, 18.31), Isabella Porter (19th, 20.03)

400m Hurdles: Naomi Bates (2nd, 1:04.29), Ila Davis (4th, 1:04.75)

4x100 Relay: 2nd, 46.99 (Cheney, Heiman, Miller, Polkinghorn)

4x400 Relay: 3rd, 4:02.51 (Polkinghorn, Miller, Bates, Mansfield)

High Jump: Nicole Avery (T5th, 1.48m/4-10.25), Cassandra Schulberg (T7th, 1.43m/4-8.25), Tess King (9th, 1.38m/4-6.25)

Pole Vault: Annie Tran (4th, 3.40m/11-1.75)

Long Jump: Hannah Polkinghorn (1st, 5.37m/17-7.5), Ayla Danner-Bunn (3rd, 5.12m/16-9.75), Kora Cook (5th, 5.05m/16-7)

Shot Put: Katie Potts (2nd, 13.14m/43-1.5), Mara Parks (13.09m/42-11.5), Maddy Grandbois (4th, 12.47m/40-11), Karma Walker (16th, 9.29m/30-5.75)

Discus: Katie Potts (1st, 44.86m/147-2), Adriannah Galvan (11th, 33.75m/110-9)

Hammer Throw: Mara Parks (4th, 46.79m/153-6)

Javelin: Tess King (10th, 28.93m/94-11)

 

Here is a look at the top 10 marks achieved in program history at the CWU Wildcat Invitational:

 

• Men's 4x100 Relay – School Record (41.11)
• Women's 4x100 Relay – 2nd (46.99)
• Lucas Brenek – 400m (48.13, 4th)
• Caitlyn Cheney – 200m (24.88m, 5th)
• Mara Parks – Hammer Throw (46.79m/153-6, 6th)
• Annabelle Heiman – 200m (25.36, 9th)
• Liam Wall – Discus (48.47m/159-0, 9th)
• Jakob Braunstein – Javelin (61.88m/203-0, 9th)
• Maddy Grandbois – Shot Put (12.47m/40-11, T9th)

 

The 42nd Ralph Vernacchia Invitational will be held on Saturday, April 28 at Civic Stadium in Bellingham. The full meet schedule will be finalized early next week and heat sheets will be posted online when they become available. The complete 2024 WWU Track & Field schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/TF.