SPOKANE, Wash. – The Central Washington University track & field team kicked off the indoor season at the Spokane Invitational today, with one Wildcat earning a win along with many marks that rank amongst the best in the nation.
 
MEET INFORMATION
Meet: Spokane Invitational
Location: The Podium | Spokane, Wash
RESULTS
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH JONATHAN HILL
"I thought today had a little bit of everything. In some areas, we are way ahead of schedule; in others, it was clear we needed some more work. But, in all, we gathered a ton of information about who this team is and what they're made of. Our athletes gained a ton of new experience."

"I'm reminded today that this group has a ton of heart. They compete hard and compete for each other. With some adjustments, we'll continue to grow into the team we can be."

"E'lexis and Ashlyn Nielsen were terrific today. E'lexis rebroke her school record in the 200m and had the best opening 60m performances of her life. Ashlyn opened as the #2 all-time sprinter in CWU history. If not for a little stumble on the banked track, her name would be on the 200 list as well."

"Emy Ntekpere matched her lifetime best with a 5'8.5" best in the High Jump. She also ran lifetime bests in the 60m hurdles and the 4x4."

"I'm excited for Jaz Mendoza and her opener in the weight throw, her best mark ever other than her PR at the championships last year. She's doing so well and is primed for a breakout year."

"We opened a whole group of freshmen, and they competed tough- Kamila, Audrey, Ashlyn, Meggie, Joy, Blessing, Hannah… I could go on and on."

"This team has a whole new look and were just figuring out our identity."
 
ABOUT THE MEET
 

• E'lexis Hollis won the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.37 and is currently ranked #1 in NCAA Division II rankings. She is also ranked #4 in the nation in the 200-meter dash as she completed the final with a time of 24.26. Hollis placed second in the 200-meter dash, just three seconds shy of winning the event.
• Ashlyn Nielsen placed eighth in the final for the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.66 and showed her poise by placing second in the prelims with a time of 7.64.
• Donna Marie Harris, Emy Ntekpere, Bailey Board, and Zoe McDevitt competed in the 4x400 relay race and placed fifth with a time of 4:03.84. CWU's other competitive group consisted of Carley Huber, Samantha Delay, Meggie Kilcup, and Elise Hopper which placed seventh with a time of 4:08.00.
• Emy Ntekpere placed second in the women's high jump as she had 1.74 meters, just shy of taking home first place. Ntekpere finished in sixth place in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.15.
• Kamila Salanoa placed seventh in women's shot put with 11.96 meters.
• Cariann Bryant placed fifth in women's pole vault with 3.31 meters.