Day One Husky Classic Results

An action-packed weekend on both sides of the state for the Eastern Washington University track and field team began tonight (Feb. 11) at the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash., at the Dempsey Indoor.
 
Vernice Keyes highlighted tonight's competition with nearly a one-foot personal best in the weight throw, tossing 62-9 ¼ to place third overall. The mark also ranks third all-time in EWU history, besting her previous mark of 61-8 ½. It is the second-best throw in the Big Sky Conference this season.
 
"Vernice has been waiting to hit 60-plus and she finally got it today. It was another strong women's weight throw competition for her," said head women's coach Marica Mecklenburg. "She stayed focused through every throw and it paid off with a third-place finish."
 
Alex Bishop also recorded a third-place finish in the high jump, clearing 6-5, while Colton Kautz placed fifth in the weight throw with a season-best mark of 57-5 ½.
 
"Colton Kautz had a very solid day in the weight throw. His season best throw came in the finals in what was an outstanding field of weight throwers," said head men's coach Stan Kerr. "Alex Bishop is close to putting together a seven-foot plus jump performance. His weekly development impressive and like Colton, his breakthrough performance is just a heartbeat away."
 
Quintin Porterfield finished 10^th in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.89.
 
Eastern Washington was well-represented in the women's 60-meter hurdles, with Alyssa Hoffman finishing 13^th in 9.14 while Madelyn Knight (15^th, 9.16) and Felicity Hempstead (17^th, 9.31) also competed.
 
"Our women hurdlers also competed today with Alyssa Hoffman leading the way for Eastern. She has been consistent with her times over the last several meets, so I think something big is coming," added Mecklenburg.
 
Also on the women's side, Kaitlyn Paller finished 12^th in the weight throw with a toss of 50-5 ¼.
 
Competition resumes tomorrow for the Eagles on day two of the Husky Classic and at the Whitworth Invitational at The Podium in Spokane, Wash., for the final meets of the regular indoor season.
 
Action in Seattle kicks off at 10 a.m. for the field events and 11:30 a.m. for the track events. In Spokane, field events begin at 9 a.m. followed by the track events at 9:30 a.m.