(Spokane, WA) - The 2022 indoor track season wrapped up for the Sasquatch track squads with the Whitworth Invitational on Feb 12th.
The debut of the brand-new indoor track facility, The Podium, located just across the river from Riverfront Park and next to the Spokane Arena provided a world class facility that the team was able to utilize for both practice and meets this year.
A total of four meets inside the facility created great opportunities for the team to develop after missing all the 2021 indoor season due to the pandemic.
Leading the women’s team this year in the distance races is returner Tressa Wood. The sophomore from The Dalles, Oregon had season bests in both the 3,000-meter race in 11:26.03 and a very solid mile in 5:31.20.
Her teammate Kaidyn Johnson from Ephrata, saw her best efforts lead to a time of 20:20.05 in the 5,000-meter-race, while she also recorded a season best of 11:59.73 in the 3,000-meter race.
Shelby Irmer a freshman from University HS competed each week in the jumping events. Her season best marks were 15 feet and 8.76 inches in the long jump, while also recording a best of 31 feet 4.75 inches in the triple Jump.
Freshman Kiley Cutler spend the season running in the 60-meter hurdles, the 200-meter, and the 400-meter. Her season best in the 400-meter was a fine 1:02.87. Cutler will specialize during the outdoor season in the 400-meter hurdles.
On the men’s side, red shirt freshman Bradley Fillis from Central Valley HS broke a sixteen-year-old school record in the 35-pound weight throw with a toss of 57 feet and 11 inches. The previous best was 55 feet and 6.25 inches by Jake Shanklin from the 2006 season. Fillis had a season best in the shot-put throw with a mark of 53 feet and 3.50 inches just less than a foot for the school record in that event. Fillis earned three NWAC All-American awards during the 2021 outdoor season.
Leading the distance crew was Anthony Carlascio a sophomore from West Valley Yakima, who recorded season bests at 3,000-meter running 8:50.56 and 4:22.25 in the mile run. Close behind was Travis Hicks, who ran 4:24.51 in the mile and recorded a very fast 800-meter in 1:56.33. Look for these two to be at or near the top of the conference during the outdoor season.
Brooks Michaels from Glacier HS in Kalispell, MT had giant strides this season in the 35-pound weight throw adding nearly seven feet to his throws and recorded a best of 52 feet and 6.75 inches good for a top ten placement on the event all-time list.
In the sprints, the team is led this year by returner Jon Watkins from Selah HS. Jon spent the season running the 60-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter, and the 4 x 400-meter relay. One of the hardest working members of the team, Jon saw his time improve greatly during the indoor season. His best came in the 400-meter with a solid time of 50.76. In the 200-meter he recorded a best of 23.03.
Teammate Jake Schnatter from Lake City HS in Coeur d’ Alene saw similar duty in the 60-meter and 200-meter. Jake has best times inn the 60-meter of 7.22 and 23.19 in the 200-meter. In the long Jump, Jake’s best mark came in at 21 feet and 3.25 inches. Both Jake and Jon are NWAC All Americans from the 2021 season.
In the vertical jumps, TJ Lynch from Hanford HS has been the team leader in the pole vault. Consistently jumping at 15 feet heights or higher is the goal during the 2022 season. TJ cleared 14 feet and 9 inches, just under his best from the 2021 outdoor season. His ultimate target is 16 feet.
The 2022 indoor season was a great learning tool for the team. Both coaches and student athletes are excited for a full outdoor season and most especially the return of the NWAC conference track and field championships scheduled for MT Hood CC in Gresham, Oregon on May 23-24.
Outdoor season action kicks off for 2022 with the Ed Boitano Invite at the University of Puget Sound on
Friday and Saturday March 4th and 5th.
Tags
#Men's Track and Field
#TrackField
#Women's Track and Field