Freshman Louie Hinchliffe, others achieve personal bests over the weekend

WSU outdoor track and field set personal records and move up WSU all-time lists

COURTESY OF ANDY THILL

Daylon Hicks jumps over the 6-foot-4 bar on Jan. 14 at The Podium in Spokane.

ALENA RINEHARDT, Evergreen reporter
April 19, 2023

WSU outdoor track and field hit the ground running (literally) last weekend as they competed in the Mt SAC Relays and Bryan Clay Invitational both located in California.

Freshman Louie Hinchliffe ended the Mt SAC Relays in Walnut, California on a strong note by achieving a season, and lifetime, best in the 100-meter dash. He placed 10th in the men’s elite field with a time of 10.22.

Micaela De Mello brought the same passion and speed that she possessed running for WSU’s indoor track and field at the meet as well. Her first appearance in the outdoor season ended with her placing 10th in the women’s 10m hurdles elite competition (13.64). 

Amy Kraemer also impressed at the meet, throwing 55.33m in the women’s hammer throw and placing 20th. This throw also placed her higher on the WSU women’s hammer throw all-time list where she now sits at 10th. Tara Koonce was not far behind Kraemer at the meet, however, with a throw of 52.60m and 26th place finish.

The Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California, also yielded impressive results for the team. Elise Unruh-Thomas (23.71) and Jasneet Nijjar (23.77) both ran new personal-best times in the women’s 200m dash. Just split seconds away from each other, Unruh-Thomas and Nijjar moved into sixth and seventh, respectively, on the all-time list at WSU.

Parker Duskin also notched a personal best at the meet in the men’s 110m hurdles (14.48), and Mason Lawyer finished in sixth (21.16) in the men’s 200m.     

Daylon Hicks had a successful meet as well, placing first in the men’s high jump (2.07m) and taking home a new season and personal best mark. Taino Ferdinand was close behind Hicks, finishing fourth (2.02m) and achieving a season-best.

Anna Rodgers also took home the season-best jump at 6.08 in the women’s long jump and placed seventh overall in the women’s competition. 

The WSU outdoor track and field team will be heading into the last of their pre-championship meets next week as they head to the Wildcat Invitational this Sunday in Ellensburg which is followed by the Fresno State Invitational that weekend. 

The Cougs will then start their championship season in May which will take them back to Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California for the 2023 Pac-12 Championships.