Link to Information and Results
 
Anticipation is always high for the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, but having not had a meet since 2019 has only ramped up the eagerness for Eastern Washington University.
 
Eastern will take contingent of 28 men's athletes and 28 for the women to the Big Sky Conference Championships on May 12-15 in Ogden, Utah. The meet is hosted by Weber State University, and did not take place a year ago because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
"It has been a crazy year but if there is one thing for certain, competing at the Big Sky Conference Championships provides a bit of normalcy," said Eastern women's head coach Marcia Mecklenburg. "The goal is to place higher then you go in ranked, and if we can do that it will be a successful meet."
 
"I love the championships," said men's coach Stan Kerr. "It's an amazing opportunity for our athletes to compete head-to-head with the other best athletes in the Big Sky Conference. Our conference has national-class performers, and this opportunity to represent EWU with the goal of moving onto the national championships is a very strong motivator."  
 
The first two days are the multi-events competitions, with individual events in the men's decathlon starting at 9 a.m. Pacific time each day, and the women's heptathlon starting at 9:30 a.m. The regular portion of the meet begins with field events at 10 a.m. Pacific time on Friday (May 14), with running events starting at 12:30 p.m. The final day of the competition begins at 8:30 a.m. Pacific time, followed by running events at 1 p.m. Preliminaries will take place in running events through the 800 meters, and all other running events and all field events will be run as finals.
 
With the top performances in a trio of events, the Eagles are seeking to improve upon their finishes in 2019 when the meet was last held. Eastern's men finished sixth while the women were seventh, but in 2018 the men were fourth and the women sixth.
 
Leading the Eagles are a pair of individuals and a relay which enter the championships with the top marks in the league among this week's competitors. Eastern has an additional five ranked No. 2, and a total of 22 ranked in the top six (16 men, six women). The total in the top 10 is 42 (26 men, 16 women).
 
"Based on performances over the past several weeks, it's clear all four event areas are ready to put points on the board for us," said Kerr.
 
Senior Parker Bowden is trying for EWU's first Big Sky title in the men's 110-meter high hurdles with a top time of 13.87 to shatter the previous school record of 14.23. Twice previously he's earned All-Big Sky Conference honors with a top three finish at conference championship meets, but both of those came indoors. He was fifth in the hurdles the first and last time he competed at the Big Sky outdoor meet in 2018.
 
Senior Morgan Fossen enters with the top pole vault mark of 13-8 1/2, but she has company. Freshman Savannah Schultz is second at 13-7 3/4 and junior Katrina Terry is third at 13-3 1/2. The group of women's pole vaulters has ranked as high as seventh in NCAA Division I this season (currently ninth), and had a 1-2-3 sweep outdoors in 2019. For good measure, freshman Rosalie Folger-Vent is No. 9 in the league (12-0 3/4) and sophomore Hally Ruff is No. 10 (12-0).
 
Both Schultz and Terry has previously earned All-Big Sky honors, with Schultz finishing second indoors in 2020 and Terry placing third outdoors in 2019. Eastern has won five outdoor pole vault titles – all in the last eight meets since 2012 – with Samantha Raines the most recent in 2019.
 
Eastern's men's 4x100 relay team is a veteran group, and leads the league with a 41.07 time to rank No. 7 in school history. Team members Joe Gauthier (junior) and Jonah Mathews (senior) have both run individual times of 10.52 this season in the 100 to rank second in the league and No. 4 all-time in EWU history. Both of them, plus junior Dawson Lack, were also members of the 2018 squad which won Eastern's only league title in that event and set a school record that season with a 40.39 time.
 
True freshman Daniel Gaik was the fourth member of the relay team, but the Eagles also have flexibility to add to the squad junior Dimeji Adekanbi. He's run the eighth-fastest 100 in school history this season with a 10.71 time. Mathews has the league's No. 4 time in the 200 (21.29), Gaik is No. 5 in the 400 (48.42), and Gauthier has previously earned All-Big Sky honors in the 100 outdoors (2019, third) and 60 meters indoors (2019, third).
 
Eastern's men have finished a high of third on four occasions (2006, 2005, 2001, 2000), all under head coach Stan Kerr. The women have finished as high as third twice (2016, 2011) under head coach Marcia Mecklenburg. Both Kerr and Mecklenburg are in their 26th year at the helm of their respective teams.
 
 

Other Men's Contenders

 
* Freshman pole vaulter Zach Klobutcher has a best this season of 16-9 1/4 which ranks both No. 2 in the league and second in school history. The top mark in the Big Sky is 17-5 and the school record Klobutcher is chasing is 17-6 1/2 set by Larry Still in 2019. Eastern has won three league titles in that event, including two by Still (2019, 2016).
 
* Klobutcher's teammate, freshman Brayden Freitag, has the No. 5 mark in the league this season with a pole vault of 15-7 1/4. His father, Todd Freitag, won the Big Sky Conference indoor title in the pole vault in 1988 and the outdoor title in the decathlon later that season. He ranks sixth all-time at EWU with a pole vault of 16-7 that season which stood as the record for 17 years.
 
* Sophomore Justin Roosma broke the school record in the steeplechase on April 30 with a time of 8:54.69 to rank fourth in the league. The Eagles have had no champions in that event, but the previous record holder, Branden Fuller, was runner-up twice. Roosma was also third in the league in the regular season in the 800 with a time of 1:50.31 which ranks fifth in school history, but he will not run that event in Ogden.
 
* Sophomore jumper Bobby Say is ranked fifth in the league in the triple jump with a 49-4 1/4 leap which ranks ninth in school history. He is also No. 7 in the long jump with a mark of 23-8 1/4. Say was third in the triple jump at the 2019 indoor championships.
 
* Eastern's top competitor in the decathlon is Quintin Porterfield, who is ranked fifth among entrants with 5,903 points. Eastern also holds down the No. 6 (Parker Wubbena, 5630), No. 7 (Elijah Conley, 5601) and No. 8 (Chris Homen, 5533) positions in that event.
 
* The top thrower for the Eagles is hammer thrower Colton Kautz, who is No. 3 in the league with a mark of 202-1.
 

 
Other Women's Contenders

 
* Sophomore hammer thrower Vernice Keyes enters the championships with a mark of 198-2 on April 30 to rank No. 2 in the league. Keyes, who earned All-Big Sky honors in 2020 with a third-place finish indoors in the weight throw, had a nearly 12-foot improvement as only marks of 199-8 (Nicole Luckenbach, 2010) and 203-1 (Kaytlyn Coleman, 2016) are ahead of her in school history. The previous career best for Keyes was 186-6 on April 17 at a meet at Whitworth, and coming into the season her high was 158-3 as a freshman in 2018. The Eagles have won four previous league titles in the hammer, with the most recent being Coleman in 2016.
 
* Freshman Madelyn Knight enters with the third-best performance in the heptathlon with 4,749 points to rank fourth in school history. Teammate Hayden McAuliff is seventh with 4,175 points. Knight is also No. 10 among competitors in the 100-meter hurdles, recording the fourth-fastest time in school history (14.60).
 
* Senior graduate transfer Emmanuella Engle enters the championships with the fifth-best throw in the javelin, an effort of 158-3 on May 1 which moved her to No. 8 on EWU's all-time leaders list. The transfer from the University of Washington had a previous best of 156-11 in her EWU debut on March 13, and as a Husky her top performance was 150-4 in 2019, which also ranked eighth on the UW's all-time list.
 
 

Additional Comments from Head Coach Marcia Mecklenburg

 
"We are looking forward to the Big Sky Conference Championships.  As a team, it is the most important meet of the season for us."
 
 

Additional Comments from Head Coach Stan Kerr

 
"Colton Kautz will be leading the way for our throwers as he is poised to contend for top honors in the hammer throw.  
In the jumps, the trio of Bobby Say (long and triple jump), Zach Klobutcher (pole vault) and Quintin Porterfield (Decathlon) are ready to lead the way for that crew."
 
"Justin Roosma, coming off his Big Sky athlete of the week performance last week, is looking to make an even stronger statement at the championships in the steeplechase."

"Parker Bowden is the top seed in the 110 hurdles and is prepared to do something special in that event at the championships."
  
"The very experienced quartet of Joe Gauthier, Daniel Gaik, Dawson Lack and Jonah Mathews are also a top seed in the 4x 100 relay.  Three of them were on the team that set the school record in the 4x100 in the 2018 season. This race will no doubt be one of many highlights for the team this weekend. This group will also double back in other events to add to the team effort of putting points on the board."
 
 

On the Horizon

 
The NCAA West Regionals will take place on May 27-29 at College Station, Texas, and hosted by Texas A&M. The maximum field size in each event will by 48, based on marks posted during the outdoor season in 2021. Competition each day begins as early as 11 a.m. Pacific time for field events, and 4:30 p.m. for running events. The top finishers qualify for the NCAA Championships on June 9-12 in Eugene, Ore., and hosted by the University of Oregon. Eugene will also host the U.S. Olympic Trials on June 18-27.
 
 

EWU Athletes Ranked in the Top 10 in Big Sky Conference (among entrants in Big Sky Championships)

 
Men (Outdoor eligibility listed) - Total of 26 ranked
#1 - 110 Hurdles - 13.89 - Parker Bowden - Sr. - Spokane, Wash. / Central Valley HS '15 / CC of Spokane
#1 - 4x100 Relay - 41.07 - Joe Gauthier, Daniel Gaik, Dawson Lack, Jonah Mathews
#2 - 100 - 10.52 - Joe Gauthier - Jr. - West Richland, Wash. / Hanford HS '17
#2 - 100 - 10.52 - Jonah Mathews - Sr. - Tacoma, Wash. / Fife HS '15
#2 - Pole Vault - 16-9 1/4 - Zach Klobutcher - Fr. - Covington, Wash. / Tahoma HS '19
#3 - Hammer - 202-1 - Colton Kautz - Jr. - Everson, Wash. / Nooksack Valley HS '17
#4 - 200 - 21.29 - Jonah Mathews - Sr. - Tacoma, Wash. / Fife HS '15
#4 - Steeplechase - 8:54.69 - Justin Roosma - So. - Walla Walla, Wash. / W. Walla Valley HS '19 / Pacific Union Col.
#5 - 400 - 48.42 - Daniel Gaik - Fr. - Kent, Wash. / Kentwood HS '20
#5 - Pole Vault - 15-7 1/4 - Brayden Freitag - Fr. - Kennewick, Wash. / Kamiakin HS '19
#5 - Triple Jump - 49-4 1/4 - Bobby Say - So. - Maple Valley, Wash. / Tahoma HS '18
#5 - Decathlon - 5903 - Quintin Porterfield - Jr. - East Wenatchee, Wash. / Eastmont HS '17 / Wenatchee Valley CC
#6 - Decathlon - 5630 - Parker Wubbena - So. - Vancouver, Wash. / Mountain View HS '17
#6 - 4x400 Relay - 3:18.32 - Trey McAdams, Jayce Freeman, Daniel Gaik, Liam Bracken
#7 - Long Jump - 23-8 1/4 - Bobby Say - So. - Maple Valley, Wash. / Tahoma HS '18
#7 - Decathlon - 5601 - Elijah Conley - Fr. - Lacey, Wash. / Timberline HS '19
#8 - 400 - 49.32 - Trey McAdams - Sr. - Seattle, Wash. / Nathan Hale HS '16
#8 - Decathlon - 5533 - Chris Homen - Fr. - Spokane, Wash. / Ferris HS '19
#9 - Javelin - 199-4 - Gavin Lee - Jr. - Vancouver, Wash. / Heritage HS '17
#10 - 100 - 10.71 - Dimeji Adekanbi - Jr. - Seattle, Wash. / Nathan Hale HS '16 / Everett CC
#10 - 200 - 21.86 - Dimeji Adekanbi - Jr. - Seattle, Wash. / Nathan Hale HS '16 / Everett CC
#10 - 800 - 1:52.21 - Alec Kness - Fr. - Spokane, Wash. / North Central HS '19
#10 - 400 - 49.79 - Liam Bracken - So. - Republic, Wash. / Republic HS '18
#10 - 10,000 - 30:12.69 - Carter Ledwith - So. - Spokane, Wash. / Lewis & Clark HS '18
#10 - High Jump - 6-6 - Alex Bishop - So. - Vancouver, Wash. / Woodland HS '19 / Univ. of Jamestown (S.D.)
#10 - Shot Put - 43-7 - Kaitlyn Paller - Jr. - Shelton, Wash. / Shelton HS '17 / Olympic CC
 
Women (Outdoor eligibility listed) - Total of 16 ranked
#1 - Pole Vault - 13-8 1/2 - Morgan Fossen - Sr. - Medford, Ore. / North Medford HS '16 / Lane CC
#2 - Pole Vault - 13-7 3/4 - Savannah Schultz - Fr. - Portland, Ore. / Centennial HS '19
#2 - Hammer - 198-2 - Vernice Keyes - So. - Lynnwood, Wash. / Edmonds-Woodway HS '17
#3 - Pole Vault - 13-3 1/2 - Katrina Terry - Jr. - Billings, Mont. / Billings West HS '17
#3 - Heptathlon - 4749 - Madelyn Knight - Fr. - Walla Walla, Wash. / Walla Walla HS '19
#5 - Javelin - 158-3 - Emmanuella Engle - Sr. - Okanogan, Wash. / Okanogan HS '16 / University of Washington
#7 - Heptathlon - 4175 - Hayden McAuliff - Fr. - Spokane, Wash. / Central Valley HS '19
#8 - 100 - 12.05 - Samiah Kuntz - Fr. - Spokane, Wash. / Lewis & Clark HS '20
#8 - 4x100 Relay - 47.77 - Samiah Kuntz, Faith Kennedy, Alyssa Hoffman, Katie Petsch
#9 - 400 Hurdles - 1:03.66 - Alyssa Hoffman - So. - Renton, Wash. / Kennedy Catholic HS '18
#9 - Pole Vault - 12-1 1/4 - Rosalie Folger-Vent - Fr. - Portland, Ore. / Madison HS '19
#9 - Shot Put - 43-7 - Kaitlyn Paller - Jr. - Shelton, Wash. / Shelton HS '17 / Olympic CC
#9 - 4x400 Relay - 4:00.23 - Emily Madura, Felicity Hempstead, Haven Nutting, Faith Kennedy
#10 - 100 - 12.14 - Katie Petsch - Fr. - Kennewick, Wash. / Kamiakin HS '19
#10 - 100 Hurdles - 14.60 - Madelyn Knight - Fr. - Walla Walla, Wash. / Walla Walla HS '19
#10 - Pole Vault - 12-0 - Hally Ruff - So. - Walla Walla, Wash. / Walla Walla HS '18
 
 
 

EWU Top-10 Lists

 
Spring 21 Updates Include:
 
Women
- Morgan Fossen, No. 2 – Pole Vault | 13-8 1/2
- Savannah Schultz, No. 3 – Pole Vault | 13-7 3/4
- Vernice Keyes, No. 3 – Hammer | 198-2
- Madelyn Knight, No. 4 – 100-Meter Hurdles | 14.60
- Madelyn Knight, No. 4 – Heptathlon | 4,749 points
- Katrina Terry, No. 7 – Pole Vault | 13-3 1/2
- Emmanuella Engle, No. 8 – Javelin | 158-3
 
Men
- Parker Bowden, School Record – 110 hurdles | 13.87
- Justin Roosma, School Record – 3,000 Steeplechase | 8:54.69
- Zach Klobutcher, No. 2 – Pole Vault | 16-9 1/4
- Justin Roosma, No. 3 – 1,500 Meters | 3:48.43
- Jonah Mathews, No. 4 – 100 Meters | 10.52
- Joe Gauthier, No. 4 – 100 Meters | 10.52
- Justin Roosma, No. 5 – 800 Meters | 1:50.31
- Colton Kautz, No. 6 – Hammer Throw | 202-1
- Jonah Mathews, No. 6 – 200 Meters | 21.29
- Carter Ledwith, No. 7 – 10,000 Meters | 30:12.69
- Dimeji Adekanbi, No. 8 – 100 Meters | 10.71
- 4 x100-Meter Relay, No. 7 | 41.07 (Joe Gauthier, Daniel Gaik, Dawson Lack, and Jonah Mathews)
- Bobby Say, No. 9 – Triple Jump | 49-4 1/4
 
 
 

Returning Men's All-Big Sky Athletes

(Top 3 finish at the Big Sky Championships)
 
Parker Bowden – (2020 Indoors: 3rd in 60-meter hurdles/7.94; 2018 Indoors: 2nd in 60-meter hurdles/8.00)
Joe Gauthier – (2019 Outdoors: 3rd in 100/10.54; 2019 Indoors: 3rd in the 60-meters/6.83) 
Killion McGinnis – (2019 Outdoors: 3rd in high jump/6-8 1/4)
Bobby Say – (2019 Indoors: 3rd in triple jump/48-3 1/2)
* 4x100-meter relay – (2018 Outdoors: 1st place finish/40.57; Jonah Mathews, Dawson Lack, and Joe Gauthier are returning members from that team.)
 
 

Returning Women's All-Big Sky Athletes

(Top 3 finish at the Big Sky Championships)
 
Vernice Keyes – (2020 Indoors: 3rd in weight throw/61-8 1/2
Savannah Schultz – (2020 Indoors: 2nd in pole vault/12-10 3/4
Katrina Terry – (2019 Outdoors: 3rd in pole vault/12-6 3/4) 
 
 
 

2020-21 Remaining EWU Outdoor Track & Field Schedule

 
Wed/Th - May 12-13, 2021 - Big Sky Combined Events - Ogden, Utah - Both Days: Decathlon - 9 am; Heptathlon - 9:30 am
Fri/Sat - May 14-15, 2021 - Big Sky Outdoor Championships - Ogden, Utah – Friday: Field - 10 am; Running - 12:30 pm . . . Saturday: Field - 8:30 am; Running - 1 pm
We/Th/Fr/Sat - May 26-29, 2021 - NCAA West Regional Championships - College Station, Texas
We/Th/Fr/Sat - June 9-12, 2021 - NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships - Eugene, Ore. - TBA
Fr-Sun - June 18-27, 2021 - U.S. Olympic Trials - Eugene, Ore. - TBA