Women’s track and field competed in the Stanford Invitational and the Al Manuel Northwest Dual Meet on April 1 and 2.

The Eagles had four Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championship qualifiers at these meets, including redshirt senior Katie Mahoney who placed first in her section of the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a finishing time of 10:10.33.
That time broke the school record, previously set in 2014 by current teammate, senior Catie Arrigoni.

Also qualifying in the 3,000-meter steeplechase was junior Paula Gil-Echevarria with a time of 10:36.65.
Qualifying for the 10,000-meter was junior Sarah Reiter with a time of 33:46.71. That time was just .7 seconds away from breaking the school record, which was set by Kari McKay in 1992.

“I was super excited and happy about my race because it was a personal best and it was a great way to start off the season,” Reiter said.

Sophomore Bridgette Underwood qualified in the javelin with a throw of 143-8, placing second overall at the Al Manuel meet.

The Eagles now have seven women qualified for the conference championships.
Senior Erika Lombardo finished in first place in the 200-meter with a time of 25.38 at the Al Manuel meet.

Junior Erin Clark placed first in the pole vault at the Al Manuel meet with a height of 11-7 3/4. Freshman Samantha Raines placed second in the same event with a height of 11-1 3/4.

Senior Mayra Chavez placed second in the 5,000-meter at the Al Manuel meet with a time of 18:03.18.

Sophomore Paris Flenoy placed second in the shot put at the Al Manuel, throwing a distance of 42-2 1/4.
In the high jump, sophomore Tierra White placed second with a height of 5-3 at the Al Manuel.

Sophomore Dominique Butler placed second in the triple jump at the Al Manuel meet with a distance of 38-0 1/4.
Sophomore Samantha Lester placed second with a distance of 139-01 in the discus at the Al Manuel.

Placing third in the 400-meter hurdles at the Al Manuel meet was sophomore Leanne Asper with a time of 1:03.67.
Senior Kaytlyn Coleman threw a career-best distance of 194-6 in the hammer throw at the Stanford Invite, placing fourth in the event.

“You couldn’t ask for a better way to start the outdoor season,” said head coach Marcia Mecklenburg. “The meets were nice season openers by most of our athletes and we are looking forward to competing on our home turf next weekend at the Pelluer.”

There is a lot of confidence in the team moving forward.
“As a team, I felt it was a strong start to our outdoor season,” said Reiter. “I feel like we are strong collectively as a team and that we can continue to improve as the season moves forward.”
EWU will host the 43rd annual Pelluer Invite on April 8 in Cheney.