Final Cougar Classic Invitational Results. 

The Eastern Washington University men's and women's track and field teams completed their first indoor competition of the new year at the Cougar Classic Invitational in Spokane, Wash. at The Podium today (Jan. 15). 
 
Bobby Say competed in two events at today's competition and placed second in both. He competed in the long jump and finished with a jump of 23 3/4. This jump set a facility record at The Podium. Say also competed in the men's triple jump where he finished with a jump of 48-5 1/2. 

"Coming off the lengthy holiday break, Say once again took care of business in both horizontal jumps. Say's work ethic is an inspiration for the whole team," explained head men's coach Stan Kerr.
 
Quintin Porterfield also competed in the men's long jump and placed fifth with a jump of 22-01.
 
Alex Bishop competed today in the men's high jump and placed fourth with a mark of 6-8 3/4. In the men's pole vault Zach Klobutcher placed second with a mark of 16-0 3/4, and Colton Kautz competed in the men's weight throw and placed fifth with a mark of 56-3 3/4.

Kerr stated, "Kautz had a season-best throw in the weight throw and looks to be a top contender come conference championship time."
 
Logan Allen, Camden Phelps, Liam Bracken, and Daniel Gaik competed in the men's 4x400 meter relay and placed second with a time of 3:22.02. 

"Our 4x400 squad of Allen, Phelps, Bracken, and Gaik had a solid opening race and will definitely post a faster time in the near future," explained Kerr.

In yesterday's competition Justin Roosma placed first with a time 4:07.70. This win is fourth all-time in program history and is a new facility record at The Podium. Kerr explained, "Our distance crew performances were highlighted by Roosma's race last night. I feel they'll make more breakthroughs next week on Idaho's oversized indoor track."

"We're a bit sluggish shaking off the holiday break and adapting to the ever-changing COVID-19 protocols," explained Kerr. "As a team, we are continuing to work hard as we encounter the next normal."
 
In the women's pole vault Katrina Terry and Morgan Fossen both placed second with a mark of 12-3 1/2. 
 
Hally Ruff also competed in the women's pole vault and placed fourth with a mark of 12-3 1/2. Rosalie Folger-Vent also competed in the women's pole vault and placed sixth with a mark of 11-9 3/4. 
 
Head women's coach Marcia Mecklenburg stated, "The pole vaulters performed well placing second through fourth in the women's vault with Terry and Fossen both tying for second place. Ruff also cleared 12-3 1/2 for fourth. I am super pleased to see her clearing the same heights as Fossen and Terry. It was good to see Folger-Vent sneaking in for a sixth-place finish in that vault competition, too. I love the depth that we have in that crew."
 
Nicole Deherrera and Loren Linnenburger competed in the women's 3000. Deherrera placed eighth with a time of 10:24.69. Linnenburger placed 11th with a time of 10:26.29. Competing in the women's mile was Jenni Bissell who placed 12th with a time of 5:18.31.

"In the 3,000 Deherrera and Linnenburger both ran smart races. Deherrera made it exciting by almost pulling off the win in her heat of the women's 3,000," explained Mecklenburg. "Bissell also ran a smart race in the women's mile, with each lap being faster than the last. I am excited about the improvement I am seeing on the distance side."
 
Kaitlyn Paller competed in the women's shot put and weight throw where she placed sixth in shot put with a mark of 42-0 and placed seventh in the weight throw with a mark of 51-6 1/2.

"In the throws Paller made it to the finals in the women's weight throw with the season's best throw," said Mecklenburg. "It wasn't pretty but three shot putters, Paller, Carissa Stovall, and Dyvhon Fonoti made it to the finals. I was pleased to see them work through their struggles and get their best throws in the finals."
 
At the Cougar Classic Invitational there were two other schools that compete at the Division I level. Mecklenburg explains, "The Cougar Classic Invitational provided a lot of early season competition with some quality Division l programs coming to The Podium.  It was a great opportunity for our athletes to see a higher level of competition and see where they stack up with that competition."

Kerr stated, "We had the rare opportunity to witness just how fast this new track is today.  Our athletes competed against competitors who generated the number one time in the country on the women's side and number two time on the men's side in the 60-meter dash."  
 
"It was another great meet in an amazing facility. When it is all said and done, we are one meet more experienced," stated Mecklenburg.
 
Eastern Washington University's men's and women's indoor track and field teams will next compete in the Lauren Mcclusky Memorial Open on Saturday, Jan. 22, in Moscow, Idaho at the Kibbie Dome.