FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Eastern Washington track and field teams picked up four more podium finishes on the final day of the Big Sky Conference Championships in Flagstaff, Ariz., hosted by Northern Arizona University. The men finished tied for sixth with 44 points, bettering their finish from last year, while the women finished seventh with 41 points.

"This was a day for the ages," said Director of Track and Field / Cross Country Erin Tucker. "Starting off on the track with the Freshman sensation Maddy to beat a three time conference champion and deny him the 4th in a row is special and wow what a race! We have been working on his lean for a month and to come off hurdle-5 in second and win means he listened to his coach. My old Coach at UF the great Mike Holloway used to always say, "I am a much better coach when you all listen to me!" I agree, lol. This victory earned him Indoor Big Sky Frosh of the year!!!"

Maddy Shekhawat lived up to the hype from the entire indoor season, taking home the gold for the Eagles in the 60m hurdles with a new PR and school record of 7.64. After his stellar performance all year he was named one of three Freshmen of the Year alongside athletes from Idaho and Northern Colorado.

"The jump Queen didn't like getting 2nd so she told everyone in the triple jump "watch this!" She goes out and breaks the meet record, Big Sky All-Time Record, and destroys her own school record! It was her last jump, the competition was already won and she just wanted to make a point!!!!"

Egypt Caitlin Simmons defended her gold in the women's triple jump with a leap of 13.28m, setting a new Big Sky All-time, Big Sky Meet, and school record. With that jump she moves into 20th in the nation.

"My main man Daniel did not write the story exactly how we planned, but he was close. I will say he did not get beat as he won his heat, and the eventual champion won the other heat. Good thing about outdoor track is we all line up in one heat and see who wants it. Story To Be Continued!!!! Next up Owen in the 800m again his 1st healthy Big Sky Championship meet, and I thought he was going to pull it out! Not bad with the 3rd place finish but wait until outdoor!!!!!!"

Daniel Gaik showed out in the 400m winning his heat of the finals and finishing second overall with a time of 47.07, to secure the silver, grabbing some much-needed points for the Eagles. Owen Higgins secured the bronze in the 800m with a battle at the line, finishing with a time of 1:51.91.

"KP & Enoch were primed and ready to do damage in the 60m final, unfortunately for Enoch he was DQ'd.  It is unfortunate but part of track and we live with the officials calls. KP didn't let it rattle him and went out and won the 60m. We wanted 18 points, but we have outdoor track to make that happen."

"Nic had one heck of a meet, went in ranked 7th in the TJ and got 5th! I am happy and proud of him and the Jump Legacy Coach Jo is building here at Eastern. I told you all yesterday she was cooking up a new receipt today and the triple jumpers ate pretty darn good!"

Kris Phennicie sprinted his way to a gold medal in the 60m with a time of 6.74, beating out second place by .004 seconds. Phennicie and Okoh finished up the sprinting events for the Eagles in the 200m, finishing sixth and seventh respectively. Nic Cunningham set a new PR in the men's triple jump with a leap of 14.09m, earning him a fifth-place finish.

"Last event of the day, 4x4's. The men secured 5th place and a season's best by over a second. After that race the team was tied for 4th, but after an impeding violation we were DQ'd in the 4x4 which dropped the team to 6th. We will be better outdoors, and we will leave no doubts on our team finish in Sacramento!!!
 
The men were 9th indoor and outdoor last year, like Deion said, "We are coming!"
 
Women 4x4 closed out the meet with a point and season's best. We learned a lot this indoor season and we will be better outside!!! The women finished 7th as a team, better than 8th in our last conference meet.  We are coming this outdoors season as well.  I am excited and Go Eags!"
 
EWU 2024 Big Sky Indoor Championship Podium Finishes

• Caitlin Simmons, women's triple jump, 1st
• Suzi Woodall, women's pole vault, 1st
• Kris Phennicie, men's 60 meters, 1st
• Maddy Shekhawat, men's 60m hurdles, 1st
• Caitlin Simmons, women's long jump, 2nd
• Daniel Gaik, men's 400m, 2nd
• Owen Higgins, men's 800m, 3rd

Men's Final Team Scores
 
1) Northern Arizona – 188
2) Montana State – 148
3) Montana – 69
4) Northern Colorado – 50
5) Idaho – 45
T6) Eastern Washington – 45
T6) Sacramento State – 44
8) Weber State – 36
9) Idaho State – 31
10) Portland State – 5
 
Women's Final Team Scores
 
1) Northern Arizona – 205
2)  Montana State – 132.5
3) Sacramento State – 78
4) Montana – 66.5
5) Idaho State – 47
6) Idaho – 45
7) Eastern Washington – 41
8) Weber State – 27
9) Northern Colorado – 19
10) Portland State – 1
 
New EWU All-Time Top Ten

1.	W Triple Jump	Egypt Simmons	13.28m
1.	M 60m Hurdles	Maddy Shekhawat	7.64

 
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ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
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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