ALBUQUERQUE, N.M/ Seattle, Wash/Spokane, Wash –Maribel Caicedo set the 60m hurdles program record for the second time this indoor season to win the event at the Don Kirby Elite as Washington State's indoor track and field teams closed the book on a trio of meets around the country Saturday. Caicedo's performance highlighted day two of the two-day Don Kirby Elite from the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M.
The Cougs also finished up competition back in Washington with both the Husky Classic, hosted at the Dempsy Indoor in Seattle, as well as the Whitworth Invitational, hosted at The Podium in Spokane, finishing up a second day of events Saturday. Washington State tallied four top-five finishes on the day with 13 personal-best times/marks to close the weekend.
Maribel Caicedo (7.99) broke the 60m hurdles record for the second time this season as she took first in the event battling the elevation change. Caicedo now sits fourth in the NCAA and 18th in the world with that mark. Caicedo posted a sub-eight-second hurdles time for the first time in her career.
Caicedo also notched a PR with a 7.44 in her 60m dash prelims heat. Elise Unruh-Thomas followed suit, tying her personal best in the 60m prelims and advancing to the semifinals at 7.63.
Jasneet Nijjar posted a personal best in the 400m at 54.26, placing 11th overall in the women's field.
Sophomore Nana Gyedu (14.41m) won her third shot put event of the indoor season, giving her podium finishes in all five meets this season. Boise native Gracie Strickland tied her best finish as a Cougar in sixth with a throw of 12.30m. Sophomore Max Moore (14.67m) bested his previous best shot put throw as a Cougar by over two-meters, propelling him into his first finals appearance.
In her Cougar 400m debut, Jada Van Staden clocked a 57.58 to win the event while Renee Yang (58.46) rounded out the top five of the women's field.
Ashley Hollenbeck started her day with a PR in the women's 60m dash qualifying round at 7.80 and followed up with a 7.80 in both her prelims and her finals races to place eighth. Both Blake Deringer (6.95)and and Jared McAlvey (6.98) made it to the finals in the men's 60m dash, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively.
Alaina Stone Boggs (4:46.64) and Caroline Jerotich (5:00.89) notched personal best times in the mile. The finish for Stone Boggss was the seventh-fastest all-time and good for a 38th overall finish.
WSU is back on the road next week traveling to the Arkansas Qualifier (Friday, Feb 17) in the Tyson Indoor Track Center as a tune-up for the Pac-12 Invitational the following week. The 2023 NCAA Division Indoor Track and Field Championships are slated for Mar. 10-11 from the Albuquerque Convention Center.
WSU Results: Don Kirby Elite
(all times/marks converted per NCAA qualifying standards)
Women's 60m hurdles prelims
Women's 60m hurdles finals
John Parades: 7.02, 26th [sea level = 7.04]
Men's 60m dash semifinals
John Parades: 8.16, 15th [sea level = 8.18]
Womens Pole Vault Section B
WSU Results: Husky Classic
- Neema Kimtai 2:10.33, 26th SB
- Kyle Ortega-Gammill DNS
- Alaina Stone Boggs 4:46.64, 38th PR
- Brian Barsaiya 4:11.73 PR, 79th
WSU Results: Whitworth Invitational
- Nana Gyedu 14.41m, 1st (47-03.50)
- Max Moore 14.67m (48-01.75) 5th PR
- Jared McAlvey 6.98 SB, 7th
- Jared McAlvey 1:59.68, 26th
Sophia Cushman: 5:31.45, 29th
