The Cougar women dominated the field, the competition and the events at the Cougar Invitational.   

Head Coach Rick Sloan said he wanted the 14^th annual Cougar Invitational to be a rest day for some competitors and, in turn, other Cougars rose to the occasion. 

Among those was Dino Dodig who won the men’s 110-meter hurdles in a time of 14.91 seconds. Travis Pickett turned heads, earning a new personal record in the men’s hammer, with a heave of 189 feet and 5 inches. 

“On the men’s side, Travis Pickett almost got over the 190-mark barrier (in the hammer) and that’s two weekends in a row with PRs for him,” Sloan said. 

Katie Dean performed well in women’s field events, winning with a personal record soar in the long jump of 18 feet and 10 inches. Holly Parent won the high jump, clearing a height of 5 feet and 7 and ¼ inches. Kelsey Bueno had a big weekend once again, winning the pole vault after clearing the bar 12 feet and ¾ inches, while Caroline Austin, WSU’s school record holder, captured the women’s steeplechase with a time of 10 minutes and 58.67 seconds. 

“I’m very pleased with showing that kind of consistency,” Sloan said.  “These are big marks for us going into the Husky dual meet next weekend. 

Former Cougar and All-American, Marissa Tschida, returned to WSU to throw the javelin to a new record with a winning toss of 178 feet and 3 inches, crushing her record in 2011 of 172 feet and 3 inches. Celena Ward threw the javelin nearly 160 feet to earn runner up and another new personal record. 

 “Celena Ward had a big PR (javelin throw) last weekend and then came out today and backed it up with another PR,” Sloan said. 

In the men’s shot put, Matt Wardell had a season best mark of more than 53 feet, while John Fullington threw 53.2 feet to earn a top three finish and a lifetime best feat. 

 “(The shot put) is going to be a critical event and a very competitive event next weekend,” Sloan said. 

 Next weekend the Cougs will host rival Washington in a dual meet.