Runners, jumpers and sprinters took center stage at the Stromberg Arena as Weber State University hosted their final track and field event of the 2018-19 season on Jan. 25 and 26.
The Wildcats combined to win seven events during the weekend. Sophomore Abby Lawrence set a Stromberg Arena record with a converted time of 17:19:02 in the 5,000 meter run.
Lawrence beat her previous personal record by 40 seconds and finished over a minute ahead of her closest competitor.
In the 400 meter dash, sophomore Kate Sorensen finished with a time of 56.75 taking first place. She also participated in the 4×400 relay, for which she also took home the first-place trophy with a time of 3:57:01.
Senior Deidre Wilson finished second in the shot put with a personal record of 43-07.00. Redshirt senior Terrell Womack also placed as the runner-up in the weight throw.
In the 800 meter run, WSU accomplished a clean sweep with Wildcats finishing with the top three times. Junior Isabella Williams took first place with a time of 2:21:69, followed by freshman Bailey Roe and senior Lexi Elinkowski at 2:22.58 and 2:23:96, respectively.
A trio of ‘Cats also emerged victorious to top the mile run. Freshman Michelle Pratt led the pack with 5:07:78. Redshirt junior MarLee Mitchell and senior Summer Harper ended up second and third with times of 5:10:38 and 5:13:20, respectively.
Women’s head coach Paul Pilkington was pleased with the growth of his squad.
“I am very happy with the progress this team is making,” Pilkington said in a post-meet press release. “When we travel to Montana State, it gives us a chance to get familiar with the track and throwing facilities for conference. We continue to get better every week.”
The men’s relay team won their event with a time of 3:20.35, making it a clean sweep combined between the two squads.
Freshman Muamer Mujic won the 200 meter run, finishing at 22.43 before taking second place in the 55-meter dash.
To round out the accomplishments, senior Keaton Pace and junior Brendan Shelley tied with a mark of 15-00.00 to take second and third in the pole vault.
“Our team did a great job performing and working together to put on the meet,” men’s coach Corbin Talley said in the press release. “Next weekend will give us a mental break before conference. Overall I am happy with the progress this team has been making.”
WSU’s next meet will be at the Montana State invitational in Bozeman on Feb. 8 and 9.