SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Eastern Washington University triple jumper Bobby Say is peaking at the right moment. The Eagle star set a new outdoor career best with a jump of 15.84 meters (51' 11.75") to finish sixth at the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships First Round West Region in Sacramento on Friday night. He moves on to compete at the Championships in Austin, Texas on June 7-10.

"I always talk about 'last one, best one' and Bob was our last and best one of the weekend," said EWU Director of Track and Field Erin Tucker. "I am truly happy for him and Coach Jo (Jonina Brinson). It's their first time going to the NCAA Finals."

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. His mark on Friday moves him up from 5th to 4th in EWU outdoor history; the school record is 16.05 meters set by Vic White in 1980. Jaydon Hibbert from Arkansas finished first at the meet on Friday at 16.81.

"What a way to end a great career for Bob," Tucker added. "I'm so proud of how he grinded this year and we are not done. There's a reason I call him 'Big Jump Bob'... all it takes is one jump!"
  Say entered the week ranked 19th among West selections this season. He also advanced to the NCAA First Round in the triple jump last year but didn't move on, finishing 18th.

The Championship meet in Austin will be televised on ESPN, airing on ESPNU on June 7 and ESPN2 on June 8-10. Say and the rest of the men's triple jumpers are scheduled to begin at 8:10 p.m. CT on Friday, June 9.

In total, five student-athletes represented the Eagles at the West Region meet.

On Wednesday morning, Ryan Rieckmann finished 28th in the men's javelin, throwing 62.36 meters (204' 7"). The winning throw was 75.47 meters set by Nebraska's Arthur Petersen. Rieckman, a sophomore from Cheney, Wash., was 10th among underclassmen.

Men's pole vaulter Zach Klobutcher competed on Wednesday evening, finishing tied for 33rd after clearing 4.90 meters (16' 0.75"). Klobutcher won silver at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships earlier this month.

A pair of Eagle women's pole vaulters in Hally Ruff and Savannah Schultz went on Thursday. Schultz, competing in the West Regional for the second time in her career, tied for 34th at 3.82 meters (12' 6.25"). Ruff finished with no height set. The duo finished 1-2 (Ruff-Schultz) at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships.
 

TICKET PUNCHED. Bobby Say moves on to Austin!#GoEags #EWUTFXC | @EWUAthletics pic.twitter.com/ia5azdGzZS

— EWU Track & Field and Cross Country 👟 (@EWUTFXC) May 27, 2023

 

---

Join the Eagle Athletic Fund for as low as $50 per year! Support Eagle student-athletes on and off the field while enjoying exclusive EAF perks such as season ticket and tailgating priority, invitations to special events, exclusive access and more. Visit goeags.com/eaf for more information.

FOLLOW THE EAGLES
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram