By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
TACOMA, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field team had an early start to the 2025 outdoor season with great marks at the Ed Boitano Invitational hosted by the University of Puget Sound.
The two-day meet at Baker Stadium was highlighted not only by several great early-season marks, but great weather as the calendar turned to March.
Junior javelin thrower Jakob Braunstein recorded a massive PR with a throw of 66.86m/219-4 for the third-longest mark in WWU history. Braunstein was well over the NCAA II provisional qualifying mark of 58.93m/193-4. Junior Andrew Nelson placed 3rd with a throw of 55.93m/183-6.
Senior sprinter Ryan Greenwalt made a sensational season debut setting a PR and top 10 marks while winning both the 100m and 200m races. Greenwalt won the 100m in a time of 10.60 to move into a tie for 6th in WWU history and doubled in the 200m moving up to No. 3 in WWU history with a time of 21.45.
Sophomore Kora Cook – who currently has the No. 6 indoor mark in the high jump at 1.76m/5-9.25 to earn a spot to indoor nationals – cleared an outdoor best 1.70m/5-7 to win the event and move into the No. 8 spot in WWU outdoor history.
WWU's distance crew had a strong showing Friday night in the 10,000m with the Viking women taking the top four spots led by senior Emma Smith recording a PR in a winning time of 36:58.80 to move up to No. 7 in WWU history. Senior Ryan Clough won the men's 10,000m in 30:20.66 with three of the top six finishers wearing the light blue WWU singlet.
Racing for the first time in over a year in his marquee event sophomore Maurice Woodring won the 400m hurdles with a time of 53.68.
Senior Isabella Porter earned the win in the 100m hurdles (15.73) and sophomore Sydney Mohlman won the pole vault competition clearing 3.54m/11-7.25.
The Vikings won the men's team score competition with 182.5 points ahead of second-place Whitworth (151.5) and the WWU women placed 2nd with 109.8 points trailing Whitworth (214.0). WWU did not feature a full squad in the meet as several heavy throwers, sprinters and middle distance runners were held out of the season-opening meet.
Complete Results via TFRRS:
WWU is back in action with the second outdoor meet of the 2025 season next week competing at the two-day PLU Invitational in Tacoma. The NCAA will announce selections for the 2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships next week with nationals set for March 13-15 in Indianapolis. The complete 2025 WWU Track & Field schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/TF.
The Vikings swept the team titles at the 2025 GNAC Indoor Championships earning the title of conference indoor champions for the second consecutive season. Dating back to the 2022 calendar year, the WWU men have won nine of 10 possible titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor, while the women have combined for seven of 10 titles. The Western track & field and cross country program has a current string of 12 consecutive team titles across men's and women's dating back to the 2023 outdoor championships.
