Another weekend, another step forward for Eastern Washington Track and Field. The team competed in the Inland NW Invitational, taking place at The Podium in Spokane, Wash. on Saturday (Jan. 28). Multiple Eagles won their events and moved up on the top 10 list.

"We were back home (The Podium) this weekend, and today was a good day. We are getting better every week with PRs and season-bests across the board. Our athletes are entering the top ten list and some hovering right outside; I am confident they will get there in the next few weeks," Director of Track and Field Erin Tucker said. "What was so special about today is that we have so much left in the tank, and they know it! These next four weeks leading up to the Indoor Big Sky Championship are going to be absolutely amazing. We are priming up our motors for an amazing challenge!  They have been challenged and know the expectations of the staff. It is time to go get it!"
 
In total, Eastern had eight athletes win events and 46 place in their respective events.
 
Madelyn Knight won the women's 60m hurdles with an 8.73 second performance. Knight's time was a personal best and she currently holds the third spot on the program's top 10 60m hurdles list. Going to the women's 200m, Knight would add another strong finish to her day, placing fifth with a time of 25.77 seconds

In the men's 400m, Liam Bracken now sits eighth on Eastern's top 10 lists after he finished the race in first with a time of 48.05 seconds.

Eastern's pole vault effort continued to be a force, earning seven placers between the women's and men's squads. Hally Ruff earned first for the women after clearing the bar at 12-11 3/4 and is now 10^th on the all-time lists. Ruff won the event in a jump-off with Savannah Schultz, who placed second after clearing 12-06. Rosalie Folger-Vent placed fifth after clearing 11-06 1/4.

Fresh off his program record last weekend, Zach Klobutcher won the men's pole vault after clearing 16-09 1/4. Brayden Freitag and Lucas Couron tied for third after both clearing 15-03 1/2. Corbin Luce came in at sixth, clearing the bar at 14-09 1/2.

Bobby Say matched his career-best in the men's long jump, recording a 23-10 mark to win the event. Say is currently 10^th on the program's all-time list.

The Eagles swept the top spot in the men's and women's 4x400 relay, and the second women's group earned sixth. Knight, Haven Nutting, Sydney Thweatt and Faith Kennedy won the women's event with a time of 3:56.09. The men's team had a time of 3:24.21 from Bracken, Camden Phelps, Lucas Robert and Alec Kness. Felicity Hempstead, Faith Martinez, Chloe Pattison and Samiah Kuntz earned sixth with a time of 4:07.24.

Over on the men's 60m hurdles, Chris Homen finished with an 8.57 second time, placing him in a tie for ninth on the program's top 10 list. Homen was fifth in the event today. Cody Teevens placed sixth in the event with a time of 8.64 seconds. During his preliminary race, Teevens qualified with an 8.60 second run, putting him just outside the top 10 at 11^th.

Bradley Fillis keeps turning top performances, winning the men's weight throw with a 58-06 toss. The freshman also placed second with a 54-11 1/4 throw in the men's weight throw.

Alax Grimes was second in weight throw with a 56-01 mark.

Joe Gauthier continued his strong season in the men's 60m dash, placing second after clocking 6.82 seconds in the event. The senior would also place third in the 200m with a time of 22.06 seconds.

The women's high jump had two Eagles place, starting with Kassandra Garza in second (5-01 3/4) and Grace Bruno in fifth (4-11 3/4).

In the men's 3000m, Marcus Lemon finished in second with a time of 8:39.53, while Jesus Herrejon was third with an 8:48.74 time.

Kuntz earned a third-place finish in the women's 60m after recording a time of 7.77 seconds. Kuntz placed in her second event, the 200m, finishing sixth with a 25.86 run.

In the women's long jump, Hayden McAuliff took third in the event with a 16-08 3/4 mark.

In both the women's and men's mile run, Eastern had two placers apiece. Jasmin Muneton earned a third-place finish (5:08.16) and Maddie Drennen placed sixth (5:21.96). Anthony Carlascio grabbed third in the men's mile (4:21.71) while his teammate, Cameron Stuard, earned fourth (4:23.34).

Like the mile, the 800m had multiple Eagles place in the event. Nutting placed third (2:17.62) and Amanda Nygard finished fifth (2:25.50). For the men, Robert grabbed third (1:58.44) and Daniel Maxwell was fourth (1:58.69).

Alexa Thomson earned a third-place finish in the women's triple jump, posting a 35-11 1/4 jump.

The Eagles were heavily involved in the women's 3000m, earning four placers. Kaylin Sheley (3^rd, 10:21.40), Nattie Ruzauskas (4^th, 10:18.69), Madilynn Carr (5^th, 10:12.19) and Lilly Fetzer (6^th, 10:21.97) all placed for Eastern.

In the women's shot put, Eastern had three placers including Carissa Stovall (3^rd, 43-10), Bailey Young (4^th, 43-08 3/4) and Dyvhine Fonoti (5^th, 42-09).

Kaitlyn Paller earned fourth in the women's weight throw with a 53-05 3/4 throw. Fonoti was fifth with a 50-11 1/2 throw.

Up Next
Eastern Washington will compete at the Washington State Open, taking place from Thursday, Feb. 2 to Saturday Feb. 4.