SPOKANE, Wash. – The Eagles split their squads this week between the Whitworth Indoor Invite and the Husky Classic. The jumpers, throwers, and part of the distance crew traveled to Seattle, while the sprinters and remaining distance runners competed in Spokane. The weekend was highlighted by two school records falling at Whitworth, as
Diana Fernandez broke a 52-year-old record in the 400m and
Judith Koumedzina shattered a 31-year-old mark in the 200m.
"The last regular season weekend is in the books and across the NCAA this is the weekend most coaches and athletes look forward to," said Director of Track and Field / Cross Country
Erin Tucker. "Valentine's Day weekend is a special weekend not just for the love we have for our significant others, but it is the love of the sport as well! What a weekend we had!"
Over the two meets, the Eagles continued what Tucker called their "PR and season-best train," adding more than 10 personal and season bests to the tally.
Whitworth Indoor Invite
Two school records fell in Spokane.
Diana Fernandez broke a 52-year-old record in the 400m with a time of 55.99.
Judith Koumedzina followed by shattering the 31-year-old 200m record in 23.70. Koumedzina also ran 7.47 in the 60m to finish second and strengthen her No. 3 all-time mark at EWU.
"Her name is
Judith Koumedzina," Tucker said. "Last time out she went home with two Togo National Records, this time she goes home with two more and the school record in the 200m. I cannot wait until we get to Pocatello, she's excited to be welcomed to the Big Sky as well!"
Tucker also praised Fernandez's performance and what it means moving forward. "D-Fer is what I call her! She just likes breaking really old records! We talked about this one last year, but she wanted to wait a year. To get the event that we run at conference is huge and guess what, there is more in the tank. That opening split of 55.6 leading off the 4x4! Let's put two names over the old record in two weeks."
Jordyn Grady tied eighth all-time in the 200m with a 24.95 and placed second in the 60m hurdles in 8.48.
Cerae Mahabeer followed in fifth (8.83).
"Second week in a row challenging the school record in the 60HH for Jordyn," Tucker said. "This was her third and fourth race in two years. We are just touching the surface!"
Eastern controlled the 800m, finishing first, second, and fourth.
Lexi Meyer won in 2:13.84.
Ifechi Okoye's 2:15.66 moved her to ninth all-time, while
Rhiannon Davies' 2:16.39 kept her tenth all-time in program history.
Adrienne Root added a season-best 18:38.44 in the 5000m.
Hannah Petrillo finished sixth in the weight throw with a mark of 13.76m (45-1.75).
The women closed the meet with a dominant 4x400m relay, as
Melia Middleton, Fernandez,
Sydney Thweatt, and Grady ran 3:47.58 to win and move to No. 2 all-time at EWU.
On the men's side,
Maddy Shekhawat won the 60m hurdles in a season-best 7.74 and later ran a personal-best 21.76 in the 200m to place third.
"Mr. Shekhawat has been racing himself every week since the first meet last month," Tucker said. "Some might say he is being hunted, but he never stops hunting. Pay attention in two weeks."
Marcus Lemon won the mile in 4:15.53 and added a third-place finish in the 3000m (8:32.02).
Enoch Okoh placed third in the 60m (6.79), while
Modou Kinteh finished second in the 400m (49.54).
Cort Gebbers placed seventh in the shot put with a throw of 14.48m (47-6.25). The men's 4x400m relay team of Simpson, Kinteh, Trefry, and Garcia finished third in 3:17.72.
Husky Classic
Competing against deeper national fields in Seattle, the Eagles continued adding strong marks and all-time performances.
Sara Sanders moved to No. 4 all-time in the mile with a time of 4:53.48.
Suzi Woodall cleared 4.00m (13-1.50) to finish second in the pole vault.
In the jumps,
Manthita Wague placed fifth in the long jump (5.64m / 18-6), with
Gilana Wollman seventh and
Samarra Davis eighth. Wague doubled back in the triple jump, finishing sixth alongside
Azaria Purdy in fifth, both recording marks of 11.88m (38-11.75).
Anne Shipp cleared 1.60m (5-3) for fifth in the high jump, while
Ella Seelhoff finished eighth.
"Coach Jo and her jumpers love elevated runways," Tucker said. "They accomplished a lot on that runway and had to tweak a few approaches because those runways are so fast. We have the adjustments we need to go to Pocatello and handle business."
In the throws,
Jason Nwaka recorded a personal-best 17.56m (57-7.50) in the weight throw.
"Friday night in Seattle Jason kept his PR streak going and uncorked another big throw," Tucker said. "He's setting himself up for a great conference meet. Coach Maj and the rest of the throwers are not done — they want to be in the fire, and they are ready for it!"
On the men's side,
Merci Migani won the triple jump with a leap of 14.56m (47-9.25) and finished second in the long jump (7.11m / 23-4).
Nic Cunningham placed fourth in the triple jump, while
Pry'nce Millman was fifth in the long jump.
Alex Blecha cleared 5.05m (16-6.75) to finish second in the pole vault, with
Andrew Strawn placing fifth (4.45m / 14-7.25). In the shot put,
Koda Woodard finished ninth with a mark of 15.50m (50-10.25).
"Coach K is having an unbelievable first season at EWU," Tucker said. "Look at all the PRs and top-10 marks we have seen from this mid-distance and distance group every week. Their confidence is growing and that's exactly what we need going into Big Sky."
With the regular season complete, the focus now shifts fully to Pocatello.
"Championship time is here and it is my favorite time of the year," Tucker said. "Every coach will follow their plan that got them here and every group will be ready to execute. Let's get it Eags, it is time!"
New EWU All-Time Top Ten
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