Monday, March 20, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. – Central Washington track and field was dominant on Saturday, amassing 15 individual wins at the Doris Heritage Track Festival in Renton, Wash. on its way to earning GNAC Team of the Week honors.

The Wildcats took six women’s victories and nine men’s victories across the meet. Head coach Kevin Adkisson is happy to see not only the wins but the progress the team has been making heading into the heart of the season.

“We were very pleased with the number of quality efforts that we saw people put up last Saturday at the SPU meet,” Adkisson said. “We were able to take advantage of some great weather to win events across most all event areas, along with some other new PRs in non-event winners. It was great to see the type of progress people have been making as we head into the main season.”

The women’s efforts were highlighted by the GNAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week E’lexis Hollis, who won the 100 meters with a time of 11.95 seconds that ranks first in the conference and eighth in Divison II this season. Hollis also ran the anchor leg on Central Washington’s winning 4x100 relay team alongside junior Juliette Williams, senior McCall DeChenne and senior Lauryn Chandler, which finished in a time of 48.09 seconds.

Williams also picked up a pair of wins on Saturday, winning the women’s 200 meters with a time of 25.07 seconds that leads the GNAC this season. Central Washington took first and third place in the 100-meter hurdles with Chandler winning the event in a time of 14.44 seconds and DeChenne in third with a time of 15.14 seconds. Chandler’s winning time leads the conference this season.

The Wildcat women completed their sweep of the relays with a win in the 4x400-meters relay in a time of 4:02.57 courtesy of Williams, freshman Ellie DeGroot, sophomore Sarah Sewell and freshman Elise Hopper. Their time ranks second in the GNAC this season.

In the field, Central Washington captured a one-two finish in the women’s long jump led by senior Erica Cabanos with a leap of 16 feet, 10.75 inches. She was followed by DeChenne in second with a mark of 16 feet, 7.25 inches.

Central Washington also took a one-two victory in the men’s 400 meters. Senior Austin Albertin took the win in a time of 50.17 seconds to pace the GNAC this season and was followed home by freshman Cameron Ramsey in second place with a time of 50.38 seconds.

The Wildcat men swept the podium in the 110-meter hurdles led by sophomore Aiden Wise’s winning time of 14.77 seconds to break into the CWU all-time top 10 and lead the GNAC this season. He was followed by junior Logan Easley in 15.67 seconds and sophomore Drew Klein in 15.74 seconds.

Freshman Jack Pratapas took the first distance win of the day, winning the 800 meters in a time of 1:57.42. to lead the GNAC. In the men’s mile, it was junior Johan Correa who claimed victory with a time of 4:29.33.

Central Washington swept the men’s relays as well, winning the 4x100 meters in a time of 43.35 seconds courtesy of Klein, Albertin, freshman Cantrell Thomas and freshman Isaiah Webster. In the 4x400 meters, it was Albertin, Thomas, Ramsey and Correa who took the win with a time of 3:21.01. Both relay times lead the GNAC this season.

The Wildcat men also excelled in the field events, with senior Braydon Maier winning the pole vault with a clearance of 15 feet, 5.5 inches while Webster won the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 5 inches. Junior Branden Wise rounded out the field events with a winning throw of 180 feet, 5 inches in the men’s javelin.

Central Washington will have this week off from competition before sending athletes to the Mike Fanelli Track Classic in San Francisco, the Stanford Invitational and the Pacific Open in Forest Grove, Oregon next weekend.