ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Western Colorado took on some of the toughest competition they will see all season at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational and still managed shine, as three athletes earned provisional qualifying marks. Additionally, there were also two top-ten all-time performances.
NCAA PROVISIONAL QUALIFYING MARKS
- Vaulting her way to a provisional qualifying mark, Lauren Smith came in second-place in the women's pole vault Section C, by clearing a height of 3.76m (12-04.00). That mark also moves her to second all-time and is the fifth best mark in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
- Moving to eighth all-time in the women's 800m, Lauren Willson passed the finish line in a provisional qualifying time of 2:13.49 (converted from 2:14.24).
- Clearing a height of 4.89m (16-00.50) in the men's pole vault, Timothy Ellis earned himself a provisional qualifying mark. That mark is also the second-best mark in the RMAC.
TOP-FIVE FINISHES
- In the women's 3,000m run unseeded, Gretchen Slattum came away with a second-place finish, crossing the finish line in a time of 10:29.16. That is a season best time for Slattum as well.
- Ryan Outler came in fifth-place in the men's mile, recording a time of 4:12.84.
IMPROVING SEASON BEST
- Aidan Scott and Kyle Partin improved their time in the men's 3,000m, Scott finishing in a time of 8:21.28 and Partin coming in at 8:29.40.
- In the men's weight throw, Tyler Nelson improved his season best throw to 16.08m (52-09.25).
UP NEXT
Western will return to the Mountaineer Field House on Friday (Feb. 17) as they host the Western Colorado Alumni Open.
