By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program wrapped up a busy weekend of competition at Civic Stadium with a dominating performance at the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational.
WWU celebrated its large senior class of student-athletes on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Bellingham hosting its second meet in as many days. The Vikings recorded 13 event victories, with eight by the men and five by the women's team, and 32 total podium finishes for top three finishes throughout the day.
The Vikings earned team wins in the meet with the men scoring 213 points (2nd place – Spokane Colleges 79 points) and the women 192 points (2nd place – UBC 105 points).
A day after nine program top 10 marks and one school record highlighted the Pee Wee Halsell Invitational, Saturday featured a more balanced team performance with the Vikings preparing for the upcoming GNAC Championships.
Freshman Casie Kleine ran a PR in the 400m (56.27) to tie for 7th in WWU history for the lone entry into the top 10 record book.
Senior Bec Bennett won the 400m in 53.25 seconds for her second-fastest outdoor collegiate time, just missing her school record mark of 53.11 set at the GNAC Championships last season.
Senior Lucas Brenek continued his storied senior season winning the men's 400m in 47.50 and junior Maurice Woodring won the 400m hurdles in 52.06.
A day after shattering the WWU and GNAC record in the hammer throw, sophomore Calvin Gutierrez won the hammer throw with a mark of 59.48m/195-1. Gutierrez threw 64.03m/210-1 on Friday to break the conference record that was set in 2003.
Junior Sydney Mohlman won was a double winner in the pole vault on the weekend, clearing 3.82m/12-6.25 on Saturday after setting a PR at 3.84m/12-7.25 on Friday during the Halsell Invitational.
The Vikings will send a small group to Ellensburg to compete in the GNAC Combined Championships Monday and Tuesday, with the remainder of the team gearing up for the GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships that will be held May 4-5 in Ellensburg. The complete 2026 WWU Track & Field schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com.
THE VERNACCHIA INVITATIONAL
The Ralph Vernacchia Invitational is named in honor of the former mentor of the Track & Field and Cross Country programs at Western Washington University. Ralph's career included one cross country and seven track & field district titles, as well as countless NAIA All-Americans and NAIA Scholar-Athletes. Ralph is retired from Western, where he was a professor in the PE Department, and from USA Track & Field, where he was the Sports Psychological subcommittee chair. He served as sport psychologist for the 2000 USA Track & Field Olympic team in Sydney. He was inducted into the WWU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988.
