The weekend for the Cougar track and field teams at the Vandal Indoor Open was successful as the women proved triumphant behind Kristine Felix and Ruby Roberts. They broke several lifetime records and claimed more than a dozen victories. 

In the 200-meter sprints, sophomore Dominique Keel led the WSU women with a season best time of 25.54 seconds followed by junior Holly DeHart’s season’s best of 25.22.  Sophomore Christiana Ekelem notched a personal record time of 25.00 seconds in the 200 meter along with junior Bree Winfrey, who ran a personal record of 25.26 seconds in the same event. 

“Today was tough coming back after a late night and then early start this morning,” Head Coach Rick Sloan said. “It’s a rough thing to get through motivationally and physically as well.” 

Senior Ruby Roberts also won the women’s mile with a personal record of 4 minutes and 46.48 seconds, topping her second best mark at WSU. 

The men also dominated in the 200-meter dash as redshirt junior Lucas Sealby won the event with a time of 21.76 seconds, while his twin brother, redshirt junior Jacob Sealby, ran the 800 meter in 1:55.13.  Sophomore Terrance Chambers dominated in the 400-meter sprints by finishing with a personal record time of 49.11.  Sloan said Chambers showed resiliency this weekend, and the hard work is starting to pay off for him. 

“Terrance Chambers ran a PR in the 400 meter today and then came back and ran a strong 47.9 split on the 1,600-meter relay under not the most motivated conditions,” Sloan said. 

Among other winners were senior Josiah Sims and freshman Daniel Zmuda who finished one-two in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, but neither Cougar had times approaching their season bests or personal records.  Sloan said Zmuda is showing great consistency at a record pace. 

Pole vaulter sophomore Kristine Felix continues to pile up records for the Cougars as she soared to a lifetime best of 13 feet and 7 1/4 inches in the pole vault, which is the second best mark in WSU history. 

“Kristine Felix did a nice job and continues to climb to better heights in the pole vault,” Sloan said. 

In other field events, senior Shantae Young won the women’s triple jump with a season best leap of 38 feet and 2 1/4 inches. Both sophomore Travis Pickett and sophomore Sam Wardell also tossed for personal records in the men’s weight throw. 

Next weekend the Cougars will split up to compete at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., and at the Husky Classic in Seattle.  

“I think everything we have been doing along the way is getting us ready for this coming weekend and that, in itself, will be the springboard in the Mountain Pacific Championships,” Sloan said.