(Spokane, Wa) - The Central Washington University Invitational track meet on Saturday, April 23rd on the Campus Recreation and Athletic facility track turned into a bonus day of personal and season bests for the Sasquatch track and field program. After several weeks of unusually cooler weather, the sun returned and the faster times and marks arrived as well.
Leading the way on the women’s side was Kiley Cutler who recorded her best time of the year in the 100-meter hurdles running 16.62 seconds, which is the fifth best mark in the conference this year. In the 400-meter hurdles, Cutler was just off her season best time of 1:06 while finishing in fifth place overall in a time of 1:07.36, leaving with the third best time on the NWAC list.
Also recording another top finish in the javelin throw was Maddie Gebers who finished second overall in the meet with a throw of 125 feet and 4 inches. She now has two of the top three throws of the year in the conference, while leading the event at 141 feet. Gebers added the high jump to her event list on Saturday finishing in sixth place in the meet with a jump of 4 feet and 8 inches, good for the fifth best mark in the conference.
Tressa Wood was just off her season best of 5:06.34, running the 1500-meter in 5:07.99 on Saturday while battling some gusty winds at times throughout the race. Woods remains ranked sixth in the conference in this event.
Shelby Irmer was also close to her season best in the long jump, finishing tenth overall with a jump of 15 feet and 11 inches. Sam Emigh reached a new personal and season best in the shotput throwing 31 feet and 2 inches, which is also good for the tenth best throw in the conference.
On the men’s side, jumping the team off to a good start for the day were Jake Schnatter and Isaiah Cunningham each reaching new season bests in the long jump. Schnatter led the way with an impressive 21 feet and 8 inches, a leap that moves him into the number five spot in the conference. Cunningham hit his best of the season going 20 feet and 5.25 inches, moving himself closer to the top ten in the NWAC.
In the men’s javelin throw, the Sasquatch spearmen continue to be among the best in the conference again this year. Giovanni Nila was just off his best throw of the year and finished sixth, throwing 162 feet and 8 inches. Joey Woodland had his best throw so far this year hitting 159 feet and 8 inches, good for seventh place. Reise Raymond also had a season and personal best finishing eighth at 158 feet and 3 inches, while Brandon Snider was at his best of the year throwing 140 feet and 11 inches. The foursome are ranked fourth, sixth, seventh, and twelfth, respectively, on the conference performance list.
On the track, the warmer temperatures and a slight tail wind helped the men sprinters see some of their best times of the year so far. Team captain, Jon Watkins, blazed to his best 400-meter time of the season and into the number two spot in the NWAC running a fine 49.66 seconds. Freshman newcomer, Austin Porter, continued to show great improvement running the 100-meter in 11.32 seconds for a new season best.
Last but not least by any means, the most consistent performer for the men’s team throughout this season, Bradley Fillis turned in another fine day in both the discus and the shotput. Fillis reached a new season and personal best and extended his lead in the conference discus rankings throwing at 153 feet and 11 inches, which was good for second place in the meet and retains his hold on the top spot in the conference in this event. The top ranked shotputter in the NWAC once again delivered a number of solid throws while finishing in third place in the shot against a mostly D1 and D2 competitive field with a throw of 51 feet and .75 inches.
Coming up for the teams are the last remaining meets of the season before the NWAC Championships schedule for May 23rd and 24th in Gresham, Oregon at Mt. Hood Community College. The final two meets of the season will take place on Saturday, May 7th at the Tom Gage Classic in Missoula, Montana and the final qualifier of the year on Wednesday, May 11th at the Whitworth Last Chance meet.
A select group will head to Oregon State University this weekend (April 29th and 30th) for the High-Performance Meet.
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#Men's Track and Field
#TrackField
#Women's Track and Field