CHENEY, Wash. — Five Eastern Washington Eagles will compete the 2023 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship First Round competitions on May 24-27. The West Prelims will take place at Sacramento State University in Sacramento, Calif. Official selections were announced by the NCAA on Thursday.

Representing EWU on the men's side will be Zach Klobutcher in the pole vault, Bobby Say in the triple jump and Ryan Rieckmann in the javelin. Eagle pole vault teammates Hally Ruff and Savannah Schultz were both selected to compete on the women's side.

Zach Klobutcher — Men's Pole Vault

Klobutcher, a junior from Covington, Wash., heads to Sacramento tied for 36th in the West Prelim rankings with a season-best 5.16 meters (16'11"), achieved at the Pacific Coast Invitational in Long Beach, Calif. on April 13. That mark equals his career-best outdoors, and Klobutcher set a school record during the indoor season, clearing 5.21 meters (17' 1"). He won silver at the 2023 Big Sky Outdoor Championships this year, gold at the 2023 Big Sky Indoor Championships and silver at the 2022 Big Sky Indoors.

Bobby Say — Men's Triple Jump

Say, a senior from Maple Valley, Wash., competed in both the triple jump and long jump all season but advanced to the NCAA First Round the triple, an event in which he won medals at both Big Sky Championships this season — gold indoors and silver outdoors. He ranks 19th among West selections with a mark of 15.84 meters, achieved at the 2023 Big Sky Outdoor Championships. He hit 15.96 meters indoors in February for his overall career best. Say advanced to the NCAA First Round in the triple jump last year, finishing 18th in the West at 15.54 meters.

Ryan Rieckmann — Men's Javelin

Rieckmann came on strong in the second half of the outdoor season, reaching 60 meters for the first time in March before setting his career mark at 67.49 meters (221' 5") at the Beach Invitational in April. A sophomore out of Cheney, he ranks 21st headed into the West Prelims and 5th among underclassmen. Rieckmann earned bronze at the 2023 Big Sky Outdoor Championships (63.97 meters).

Hally Ruff — Women's Pole Vault

Ruff, a graduate student from Walla Walla, Wash., has saved her best for last, clearing a career-best 4.13 meters (13' 6.5") at the 2023 Big Sky Outdoor Championships to earn gold. She finished 3rd at Big Sky Indoors and 3rd at last season's Big Sky Outdoors. Ruff heads into the NCAA First Round ranked 27th in the West, tied with teammate Savannah Schultz.

Savannah Schultz — Women's Pole Vault

Schultz, originally from Portland, Ore., is tied with Ruff at 27th headed into the prelims. She won the 2023 Big Sky Indoor Championships in February and came in second outdoors, tying Ruff but losing the tiebreaker to earn silver. That second-place performance was her season best (4.13 meters) but Schultz's career best is 4.16 meters (13' 7.75"), set in April of 2021. She competed at the West Prelims that year, finishing 35th.

Meet Schedule

Eastern's contingent will all compete on the first three days of the meet (all times local Pacific Time):

• Men's Javelin (Rieckmann) — Wednesday, May 24 at 1:30 p.m.
• Men's Pole Vault (Klobutcher) — Wednesday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m.
• Women's Pole Vault (Ruff, Schultz) — Thursday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m.
• Men's Triple Jump (Say) — Friday, May 26 at 6 p.m.

 

5️⃣ Eags will compete in next week's 2023 NCAA Outdoor West Regional in Sacramento!#GoEags #EWUTFXC | @EWUAthletics pic.twitter.com/yeskkL9C4f

— EWU Track & Field and Cross Country 👟 (@EWUTFXC) May 19, 2023

 

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