[Moscow, ID.] - The sasquatch track squads headed south on Friday and Saturday to Moscow, Idaho and the newly resurfaced track facility inside the Kibbie Dome on the University of Idaho campus. The first annual Lauren McClusky Memorial meet honors former University of Utah student athlete Lauren McClusky who was tragically killed in October of 2018. The track is dedicated to Lauren through the foundation her parents started in her name. A ribbon cutting ceremony and bronze plaque were presented to Lauren’s parents who were on hand for the dedication. Lauren grew up working out on the Kibbie Dome track, having a close relationship with the coaching staff and Vandal student athletes.
Getting it started on Friday night with a number of student athletes competing in the long jump, 200m and the weight throw the Sasquatch faithful recorded a number of season best marks. In the men’s 200m freshman Dalton Wild ran a very quick season best burning up the track in 22.64.
Also recording season best times were teammates Zach Merrifield and Michael Byers running 23.23 and 23.35 respectively. Wild continues to run consistently in the sprints and ran a solid time of 7.26 in the 60m sprint. Leading the way in the 60m was freshman Zach Merrifield who advanced out of the preliminary rounds to run in the semi-finals in a season and lifetime best of 7.19, the best marks on the team so far this season.
In the long jump, Brendan Kelly the red-shirt freshman from Gonzaga prep soared to his best collegiate jump of the year reaching out to land at 21’ 6.50” and finishing in 9th place overall out of 28 competitors. Close on his heels was Christian Hansen with a jump of 20’ 5” good for 10th place.
Michael Byers turned on the jets in the men’s 400m dash recording a season and lifetime best finishing in 10th place overall with a time of 50.69. Close behind Byers freshman Shaun Salveson from Selah HS ran his best 400m of the year as well, running 51.45.
The men vaulters continue to be a force for the Sasquatch. Once again Gavin Hoskinson jumped the highest and is consistently over 14’. This time finishing in 8th place overall with a jump of 14’1” in what was a very long pole vault competition. Close behind was teammate Pilot Weishaar, who also continues to jump at or above the season best reach weekend.
Leading the throwers this weekend Palouse HS freshman Jaxson Orr had the top marks for the weight squad. Orr turned in season and lifetime bests in the men’s 35-pound weight event reaching a distance of 45’ 1” good for 13th place out of about 35 competitors. Adding to his ever-improving skills, Orr set a new season and personal best with the 16-pound college shot tossing the ball a distance of 42’.
The Sasquatch women were led by throwers Isabella Carpenter who reached a season best of 34’ 1” in the women’s shot put. Close behind and reaching her season and lifetime bests were Faith Wersland in the shot throwing a very nice toss of 32’ 10”.
Wersland recorded a big improvement in the women’s 20-pound weight throw, reaching a very respectable 40’11” good for 14th place overall. A very strong event for the women saw Isabella Carpenter, Saira Schoener and Sam Emigh all throw over or very close to their season best. Schoener had the biggest improvement of all by almost 10’.
Lizbeth Soto continued her workman like efforts in running the 60m spring in 8.43, the 200m in 27.17 and hitting a season best in the long jump of 16’ 6.50”.
Also competing for the Sasquatch and making her season debut on the indoor circuit was Camille Ussher running in the 800m and recoding a time of 2:31.03.
Up next is the Whitworth Invitation scheduled for Saturday January 28th at the Podium in downtown Spokane. It looks to be another great one with record numbers of schools and athletes expected to show up.
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#Men's Track and Field
#TrackField
#Women's Track and Field