Results
 
Junior Keshun McGee was crowned the long jump champion on the second day of the Big Sky Indoor Championships in Bozeman, Mont. for Eastern Washington  University. McGee won the event with a jump of 25-6 setting a new EWU school record, breaking the previous record of 18 years held by Kurt Kraemer set in 2001. This now adds gold medal number three in the long jump to his collection.

"Keshun almost jumped to Birmingham, Ala with his record breaking long jump win today," said head coach Stan Kerr. "The NCAA Indoor Nationals are in Birmingham this year and Keshun has a shot of getting in. The old long jump record stood for 18 years which is great testimony to the record he both set and broke."  

"What a day! Vaulters and weight throwers did what we needed them to do," said head coach Marcia Mecklenburg. "They scored some big points for us. I know they all wanted to place higher but when your marks are personal records and it is the Big Sky Championships you can take a moment to enjoy the experience." 

The women are currently ranked tied for second place with 34 points while the men are ranked sixth with 16 points.
 
The final day of the championships take place tomorrow (Feb. 23) with field events at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time and running events at 11 a.m.
 
Men's Top Performers

Securing the men's first title of the Big Sky Championships was junior Keshun McGee in the long jump with a jump of 25-6 breaking the 18-year-old EWU record.

In the high jump Killion McGinnis placed sixth with a jump of 6-6 1/4. Senior Forrest Wallace was right behind him in seventh with a jump of 6-6 1/4.

In the sprints, senior Jeremy VanAssche is ranked fourth going into the 60 meter finals with a time of 6.82. Sophomore Joe Gauthier also snuck into the finals ranked seventh with a time of 6.85. Gauthier also made into the finals of the 200 meters in eighth with a time of 22.03.

Senior Parker Bowden is going into the 60 meter hurdle finals in sixth place with time of 8.08. Tremaine McAdams also found himself a spot in the finals of the 400-meters with a time of 49.05 placing him in sixth place. 
 
Women's Top Performers

In the pole vault, junior Samantha Raines set a personal record and placed second with a vault of 13-2 1/2. Right behind her was senior Liz Prouty in third place with a vault of 13-3 3/4. Sophomore Katrina Terry placed sixth with a vault of 12-4 3/4.

"Love the medals and today Samantha Raines won a silver for second in the vault and Liz Prouty won a bronze for third," said Mecklenburg. "Sam had the meet of her life clearing three personal record heights on her way to that silver. Katrina Terry put things together vaulting a personal record and finishing sixth."

In the weight throw, junior Madison Doepker placed fourth with a throw of 59-4 3/4 moving her up to number six on the EWU all-time list. Right behind her was senior Paris Flenoy in fifth place with a throw of 58-7. 

In the long jump, Maegan McCurdy placed sixth with a jump of 18-8 1/2.
 
Other comments from head coach Marcia Mecklenburg . . .

"In the weight throw the three veterans all threw personal records. Madison Doepker led the way for EWU finishing fourth with Paris Flenoy right on her heels finishing fifth. Justean Landis scored in her first championship meet placing seventh."

"The final points of the day came from Meagan McCurdy in the long jump. She had an outstanding day with a sixth-place finish, her highest place ever at a Big Sky Championships."

"I am super excited for our crew. Our goal is to always place higher in this meet then what we come in ranked and the majority of the kids did that. I am looking forward to seeing what we can do tomorrow."

Other comments from head coach Stan Kerr . . .

"Killion McGinnis and Forrest Wallace scored in the high jump and freshmen Garrett Peoples made finals in the shot put - a noteworthy accomplishment for a young thrower in this conference."  

"Today's goal on the track was to advance to tomorrow's finals. It was terrific to see Jeremy and Joe advance in the 60m and Joe advancing in the 200 was also a team bonus." 

"Tre's been waiting most of the indoor season to be in a high end 400-meter race. He got his wish today and will have his biggest race of this indoor championship in tomorrow's 400-meter final."  

"Parker once again showed why he's a star in this conference with a solid 60-meter hurdle prelim race. The gracefulness of this conference's high caliber hurdlers will make tomorrow's hurdle final a thrill to watch. It's anybody's race!"

"A huge thanks to the coaches who have prepared our team to do its best here. We're savoring today's accomplishments and are excited to go after it again tomorrow."