Halfway through its indoor season, the WSU track and field team enjoyed further success in yet another dual weekend, split between the Riverfront Invite and Multis in Spokane and the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The first day of the Riverfront Invite was strong for the Cougs, as several athletes rewrote the record books.
Jasneet Nijjar set both a new WSU record and PR in the women’s 200-meter with her first-place finish of 23.54. Nijjar’s time also marks the 34th best in the nation. The graduate student has enjoyed a successful indoor season thus far and continues to improve across her events.
Three runners in the men’s 200-meter dash continued impressive times: Grant Buckmiller, placing first with 21:05 (2nd all-time WSU record), Mason Lawyer, coming in third at 21.18 (5th all-time WSU record) and Jared McAlvey at fifth with 21:38 (7th all-time WSU record). McAlvey’s time marks a new PR for the senior Cougar.
Additionally, a new freshman program record was set in the men’s 800-meter. With a time of 1:51.17, Kellen Langford also took fourth place and a new PR.
Down south in Alberqurque, Eva Bowder extended her pattern of success in the women’s pole vault, finishing second with her new PR of 4.29m (14′ 0.75″).
At the Riverfront Invite on Saturday, Lawyer set the ninth-fastest time in the NCAA in the men’s 60-meter dash. Finishing in second with a new lifetime best, Lawyer timed 6.59. His sophomore teammate John Paredes took fifth, setting a PR with his time of 6.72.
Also coming on hot on day two was Nijjar, who took first and set a new WSU record with her PR of 53.72 in the women’s 400-meter.
Micaela De Mello took another victory for the Cougs in the women’s 60-meter hurdles with her PR of 8.19. This time places her at No. 17 in the nation and third all-time at WSU.
The men’s 4×400 relay team — consisting of Lawyer, Ethan Willems, McAlvery and Buckmiller — also took first a time of 3:08.62, No. 3 all-time at WSU and No. 17 in the NCAA.
On the field, Nana Gyedu took her third consecutive victory in the women’s shot put at 15.29m (50′ 2.00″).
In Albuquerque, Mason Mahacek broke the final WSU record of the weekend with his second-place finish in the men’s heptathlon. The freshman Michigander set PRs in the 60-meter (7.05), long jump (6.88m/22′ 7”), shot put (12.97m/42′ 6.75″), 60-meter hurdles (8.49), pole vault (5.00m/16′ 4.75″) and the 1000-meter (2:41.88).
With each passing week, the Cougs continue to push themselves, returning faster and stronger. As the outdoor season approaches, it will be crucial for the team to maintain this momentum.
The WSU track and field teams will look to further their success at The Podium, with several athletes returning to the site for the Whitworth Invitational in Spokane on Friday and Saturday. Another group will head west to Dempsey Indoor for the Husky Classic in Seattle on Friday and Saturday.
