SPOKANE, Wash.- The Central Washington University track and field team delivered an impressive overall performance, securing four event victories and setting numerous new records.
 
MEET INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, Feb. 6 – Saturday, Feb.8
Meet: Riverfront Invitational
Location: The Podium | Spokane, Wash.
RESULTS
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH JONATHAN HILL
"Balance is important to us in our program. We support the whole person and recognize life factors into performance. We prepare diligently to be ready for the time when life calls us away from sports. I had the incredible honor of being present for the birth of my daughter, so I wasn't physically present to see this historic meet."

"Our team is more than just talented. They are strong, supportive, knowledgeable, and independent. They compete for more than just themselves. A little over a week from conference, it's our bond that makes us scary in a team scored meet."

"But it's my assistant coaches that carry this team every day. Matt Layten, Parker Clay, Randy Stevenson, Bryan Contreras, and interns Sam Tomerlin and Brenna Board provide so much support, I know the team is in terrific hands in my brief absence."
 
QUOTING ASSISTANT COACH MATT LAYTEN
"Outstanding weekend for the entire Central Washington Track and Field program in all event groups, which continue to support our strong national and regional team rankings on the women's and men's side of the program! The Riverfront Invitational is a last chance opportunity to prepare for our upcoming GNAC Conference Championships by being able to run multiple races over the span of a few days, and sometimes a few hours, just like in our conference and NCAA Championship meets."
 
"On the men's side, Johan Correa proved once again that he is a threat in any event from 800 meters to 3000 meters as he showed this weekend. He still holds Top 3 GNAC rankings in 2 of those events and currently sits #16 in the country for the 800 meters after our meet this weekend. He continues to set the standard for what being a warrior means for our entire track and field team!"
 
"On the women's side, we brought a contingent of young freshman distance runners who are also embracing the idea of being competitive in a wide range of middle and long distance events. Of the 16 women's performances we had in Spokane, 11 resulted in a personal best. Of those 11, 8 of the performances were from a freshman! Senior Zoe McDevitt started off our weekend for the group strong by running a personal best in the 800 meters for the second week in a row, while establishing herself as 8th on the GNAC performance list before the conference championship. The work that Zoe has put in over the past few months has not gone unnoticed and she has built strength that will help set herself apart as one of the conferences' best 800 runners. Freshman Payton Conover obtained another personal best in the 3000 meters and her performance further establishes herself as one of CWU's fastest freshman 3K runners since 2006 and into the GNAC Top-20 before going into the conference meet."
 
QUOTING ASSISTANT COACH PARKER CLAY
"The throwers executed with poise and consistency this weekend. I believe this will translate well into the upcoming indoor conference meet. Freshman Kamila Salanoa and transfer Dan Close have stepped up in a big way and have been a great addition to a seasoned returning group."
 
QUOTING ASSISTANT COACH RANDY STEVENSON
"This was a fantastic weekend, with several personal records and the season's best in the sprints, hurdles, and jumps events. I was very proud of how everyone competed and supported each other as well as demonstrating their determination and commitment."
 
"On Friday, Elexis broke her own school record in the 200m, running at 23.94, while Bauti set a new men's 200m school record with a time of 21.51. Cal'von did a great job in the high jump, clearing 6'7.7.5", which now leads the conference."
 
"Lauryn had a solid day in the pole vault on Saturday, recording a season's best at 13'2.25", placing her 11th nationally. Emy had an outstanding performance in the triple jump where she broke her school record with a mark of 42'1.25" and securing the No. 1 national ranking."
 
ABOUT THE MEET
On Friday, Johan Correa secured a strong third-place finish in the men's 800 meters with a time of 1:51.14. E'lexis Hollis also impressed, placing third in the women's 200-meter invite with a time of 23.94, which earned her the #5 ranking in NCAA Division II. Bautista Diamante shined in the men's 200 meters, capturing the win with a personal best time of 21.51, which ranks him #30 in NCAA Division II. Cal'von Baker set a personal record and placed fourth in the men's high jump with a clearance of 2.03 meters, ranking #39 in NCAA Division II.

Saturday brought even more success for CWU. David Brown earned fourth place in the men's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.18, while his teammate Drew Klein followed closely behind in fifth with a time of 8.29, a new personal record for him. Hollis continued her dominant weekend, winning the women's 60 meters with a time of 7.32, setting a new CWU school record, and claiming the #1 ranking in NCAA Division II. Correa wasn't finished, as he won the men's 1 mile event, clocking in at 4:10.77.

Lauryn McGough had a record-breaking performance in the women's pole vault, winning with a clearance of 4.02 meters, setting a new school record, and ranking #11 in NCAA Division II. Klein also competed well, placing fifth in the men's pole vault invite with a mark of 4.88 meters. Emy Ntekpere rounded out the impressive performances, placing third in the women's triple jump with a personal-best leap of 12.83 meters, which earned her the #1 ranking in NCAA Division II.
 
UP NEXT
Your Wildcats travel to Spokane next week as they will compete in the GNAC Indoor Championships on Monday, February 17^th and Tuesday, February 18^th at the Podium.