The Western Washington University Track & Field team completed its final tune-up prior to the GNAC Championships with another successful day of competition at the Husky Classic and the Whitworth Invitational.
After setting six program top-10 marks during Friday’s first day of competition at the Husky Classic, seven more marks made its way into the record books on Saturday in Seattle.
A pair of women’s milers highlighted WWU’s performances, with Ila Davis breaking the 14-year-old school record in 4:53.51 and Sophie Wright also cracking the five-minute mark in 4:58.19 for the No. 4 mark in WWU history. Davis broke the old mark of 4:56.37 set by Sarah Porter in 2009 by nearly three seconds.
On the men’s side, Drew Weber ran 4:05.70 in the mile at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston, as the Vancouver native inches closer to Mac Franks’ indoor school record of 4:02.28 set in 2022. Will Henry also raced in Boston clocking 4:12.72 in the mile.
At the Husky Classic, Johan Bloom (1:53.41) and Connor Palmen (1:53.62) each moved up one spot in the WWU record book at No. 5 and No. 6.
In the sprints, Nolan Mickenham set a season best in the 60m in 7.01 to tie for 7th in program history, falling just short of his PR of 6.98 set in 2020 while competing at Linfield. Mickenham set a PR in the 200m Friday in 22.14 for the No. 5 mark in WWU indoor history.
Caitlyn Cheney matched her personal-best marks in both the 60m (7.82) and the 200m (26.00) at the Husky Classic, with her 60m time remaining No. 3 in program history.
Mara Parks placed 6th in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 12.72m/41-8.75 to rank 2nd in WWU indoor history, trailing only teammate Katie Potts (12.83m/42-1.25).
A small group of female distance runners also competed at the Whitworth Invitational in Spokane, with Ashley Reeck placing 22nd in the mile (5:23.97) and Laura Halsell 23rd in the 3000m (11:08.36).
The Vikings are back in action in just over a week at the 2023 GNAC Indoor Championships, with the two-day competition held February 20-21 at The Podium in Spokane.
The complete 2023 WWU Track & Field schedule and meet results can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/TF.
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