ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University track and field team will travel to Lacey, Wash. this weekend to compete at the SMU Open.
 
QUOTABLE
"We are definitely looking forward to the opportunity to have another full squad meet this weekend," CWU head coach Kevin Adkisson stated. "We will be sending a big bulk of the squad over to Saint Martin's, which will be a good conference matchup. It is looking like it is shaping up to be a pretty good meet. We will hopefully get the benefit of some decent weather. We are continuing to build momentum and the majority of our athletes are coming into form."
 
LAST WEEKEND
The Wildcats competed at the WAR XI last weekend in Spokane, Wash. Battling difficult weather conditions, Central Washington managed to record impressive marks and capture several event titles.
 
Junior Alexa Shindruk captured the 5,000-meter event title after just missing the CWU school record by two seconds. Shindruk recorded a new personal best time of 17:00.79. Aujanique Doss led the CWU women sprinters after winning the 100 (12.65) and 200 (25.25).
 
Four Wildcats placed in the top-eight in the 100-meter hurdles, led by Mariyah Vongsaveng in first (14.78). Ali Anderson (sixth, 15.86), Sidney Trinidad (seventh, 16.12) and Katie Collins (eighth, 16.16) rounded out the finishers for CWU. Anderson also won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:01.65.
 
The highlight of the day for the men's squad came in the 4x400-meter relay. Doc Porter, Nick Bullo, Daniel Calderon, and Kodiak Landis teamed up to win the event with a time of 3:17.66. Landis also won the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.86 seconds.
 
WILDCATS RANKED NATIONALLY
Six members of the men's track and field team rank in the top-30 in their respective events including three Wildcats ranked in the top 15 in the decathlon. Senior Kodiak Landis recorded a mark of 7,098 points at the Sam Adams Classic to rank fourth in the nation. True freshman Braydon Maier (13th, 6,562 points) and junior Michael Forster (14th, 6,491 points) are also ranked in the decathlon.
 
Landis also ranks 32nd in the pole vault after clearing a height of 15 feet, 5.75 inches earlier this season at the Sam Adams Classic.
 
In the steeplechase, the Wildcats are led by Corbin Carlton who currently sits 18th nationally with a season-best time of 9:18.98. Tyree Rutter is the Wildcat's top javelin thrower and is ranked 29th after throwing for a distance of 191 feet, 3 inches at the PLU Open.
 
The women's team is led by HarLee Ortega, who ranks among the nation's elite in the heptathlon. Ortega ranks seventh with a season-best mark of 4,875 points recorded at the Sam Adams Classic. Katie Collins sits 27th in the event with a season-best mark of 4,222 points.
 
Alexa Shindruk leads the CWU distance runners and ranks 19th in the 10K with a season-best time of 36:46.70.
 
Ali Anderson recorded the nation's 11th fastest time in the 400-meter hurdles (1:00.95) at the EOU Team Challenge.
 
Indoor All-American pole vaulter Halle Irvine has made a quick transition into the outdoor season, sitting 21st in the nation after clearing a height of 12 feet at the EOU Team Challenge.
 
Rounding out the list of ranked Wildcats are Nicole Soleim in the steeplechase (34th, 11:21.29).

UP NEXT
The Wildcats will hit the road next weekend as they travel to California to compete in three meets. A portion of the roster will compete at Mt. SAC Invitational, Bryan Clay Invitational and Long Beach State Invitational.
 
-CWU-