SPOKANE, Wash. — Eastern Washington track and field returned to competition after spring break at the Whitman Peace Meet on Friday. The improvement continued for the Eagles with wins and personal bests, along with another record-breaking performance from Caitlin Simmons. 

"We woke up this morning to snow, so to have rain to begin the meet was a welcome change, this is the PNW in April and this will make us battle tested," Director of Track and Field Erin Tucker said.  "I challenged the team today to compete and execute and we did that for the most part in not so ideal conditions. Rain, snow, cold temps, or shine if the gun fires or they mark a jump or throw, if they put up a cross bar we are going to compete. We are going to compete!"

Like clockwork, "Egypt" Simmons broke her own EWU record with a 12.70m mark in the triple jump. The previous record was 12.59m that Simmons posted earlier this season. 

In long jump, Kimberly Smith had a 5.80m jump to place second in the event.

"The Big Sky Jump Queen Egypt Simmons breaks another school record in the Triple jump in 40 degrees, whoa there is so much left in that tank," Tucker described. "Tuti [Smith] was second but a decent series for her and I know with warmer weather she will be back to her old self."

Madelyn Knight continues to improve her 100m hurdles time this season, posting a 13.92 race for a new personal best. Her time is currently second in program history for the 100m hurdles. Knight also won the 400m, finishing with a time of 1:01.73.

"Ms. Magnificent hit another PR and I am not sure how she did that in this weather, but for her to run under 14.00 wind legal today was crazy," said Tucker "Watch what we cook up in uber warm weather (wink), she followed up with a near PR in the 400IH, 2nd best time every with a few stutters we are going to hit something big there as well."

Sara Sanders won the 1500m race, recording a time of 4:37.59. She was followed by Kaylin Sheley in second with a 4:37.64 time. 

"Nice work today for Coach Sam's 1500m group as Sara and Kaylin went 1-2 with the super frosh Sara getting another PR followed by Kaylin's season best," Tucker explained. "I believe the lady's had four PR's today in the 1500m, which was exciting to watch." 

Kris Phennicie took the top spot in the 100m, finishing with a 10.79 second time. Dalton Wild placed third with a 11.10 time. 

On the field, Savannah Schultz won in pole vault once again with a 3.90m mark. Suzi Woodall had a 3.75m mark to follow Schultz in second. Grace Stoddart and Rosalie Folger-Vent gave Eastern the sweep with a 3.45m mark. 

Zach Klobutcher posted a 5.03m mark in pole vault to win the event. Lucas Couron had a 4.93m mark to place third. 

"Pole Vault was Pole Vault and swept the women's with the top-5 spots," Tucker emphasized. "Zach hit a season's best today to win on the men's side and Lucas jumped into the top-10 list with his outdoor PR today as well."

Kahlani Schloss earned second in the hammer throw, after a 48.87m mark. 

For the men, Bradley Fillis had a 57.78m throw to place second in the hammer throw. 

"Huge PR for Brad in the Hammer today," described Tucker. " We had the whole team watching and I know that energy helped. I love to see it!"

Phennicie followed up with a third-place finish in the 200m, recording a time of 21.96.

In discus, Dyvhine Fonoti placed third with a 38.78m throw. 

Ryan Rieckmann added a third in javelin with a 64.17m mark. 

Up Next
Eastern will be spread out next week competing in four meets. The Eagles have three meets in California with the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate (April 11) and Beach Invitational (April 11-13) in Long Beach. The team will also compete at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa from the 11th through the 13th. EWU also will send a squad back to Spokane for the Whitworth Twilight Invite on the 11th.
 

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Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.

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