Jan. 19, 2002
CHENEY, Wash. -- Three Washington State University track and field athletes had outstanding performances in winning their events at the Jerry Martin Invitational Indoor Meet Saturday at Cheney.
Freshman Tamara Diles cleared 14-feet even in the pole vault to break the Martin Invitational and Thorpe Fieldhouse records of 11-7 3/4, and 11-11 3/4, respectively. Sophomore Angelita Green broke the meet record in the 500m run with a time of 1-minute, 18.45 seconds (previous record was 1:18.8, set in 1998). Senior Anson Henry won the finals of the 55-meter dash with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 6.25 seconds.
Other meet highlights for the Cougars included Tiffany Giles leading a first through fifth finish in the 55m dash. Giles, normally a longer distance sprinter, ran a time of 7.16 in the 55m dash. Ellannee Richardson was second (7.23), Bree Skinner third (7.26), Erin Reed fourth (7.27), and Tamara Gulley fifth at 7.32 after clocking a 7.25 in the prelims. Richardson won the 55m hurdles in 8.14 after running an 8.05 in the prelims. Gulley was second in the high hurdles (8.25/8.07 prelims) and Alison Eldridge third (9.09).
All-American Whitney Evans won the high jump with her sole attempt a clearance of 1.70m/5-7. Evans, bothered by a sore knee, opted to stop after her first and only jump. Freshman Schquay Brignac was second and Briana Willis third, both at the height of 1.65m/5-5.
Diles, who vaulted 4.35m/14-3 1/4 last weekend at Reno, came close on her third attempt at 4.36m/14-3 3/4. Former Cougar vaulter and All-American Jeannette Martus was second at 3.97m/13-0 1/4, and WSU sophomore Karla McGee placed third at 3.85m/13-7 1/2.
Blessing Ufodiama and Itoro Elijah were second and third in the long jump with leaps of 5.35m/17-6 3/4 and 5.26m/17-3 1/4.
In the throws, Shannon Rance won the shot put for the second week at Cheney, with a mark of 14.19m/46-6 3/4. Freshman Marie Muai was third (12.64/41-5 3/4) while Brittany Hinchcliffe finished fourth (12.47m/40-11). Hinchcliffe was the top Cougar in the weight throw finishing second (16.15m/53-0) with Muai third (16.01m/52-6 1/2). Sammy Jo Missel improved her mark to 12.66m/41-6 1/2 and finished 11th.
Highlights for the men included Henry's PQ time winning the 55m dash with Bennie Chatman second (6.34) and Dione Cason fourth (6.55/6.52 prelims). In the 500m run, WSU's Qieed Ishmael misjudged the finish line and finished sixth with Jon Manthey the top WSU runner in third (1:05.70), one of three runners to break the Martin Invite record of 1:06.7.
Darion Powell finished second to former Cougar Arend Watkins in the 55m hurdles with a time of 7.89 after running a 7.86 in the prelims.
Rick Collins led a one-two-three charge by WSU pole vaulters as he cleared 5.00m/16-4 3/4. Ryan Turner was second and Andy Kammenga third, both at a height of 4.88m/16-0. High jumpers Piero Vojvodic and Patrick Harrigan were third and fourth with the same mark at the first two placers - 2.00m/6-6 3/4. Brian Graham was third and Jamil Smith fourth in the long jump.
In the men's shot put, Idaho's Simon Stewart had a winning toss of 61-7 3/4 (NCAA PQ). WSU's Tim Gehring finished second in the shot with a PR of 16.42m/53-10 1/2, and also threw a PR for third place in the weight throw of 17.59m/57-8 1/2.
The WSU teams will not compete Jan. 26, but will see action Feb. 1-2, at the Moscow McDonald's I Open meet at the Idaho Kibbie Dome.