Wildcat track wins 14 titles at Snake River Open

POCATELLO, Idaho - The Weber State men's and women's track and field teams opened 2018 at the Snake River Open Friday and Saturday in Pocatello. Both Wildcat teams beat Idaho State and Southern Utah in the team scores. Both teams also won seven events.

WOMEN

The Wildcat women's team totaled 233 points, with Idaho State finishing second at 184 points and Southern Utah scoring 77.

On the track the Wildcats won six events. It was all Weber State in the 3,000 meters as the 'Cats had all eight entries. Senior Candace Sharp took home first place, posting a time of 10:03.09, which converts to 9:50.21, currently the fastest time in the Big Sky. Summer Harper was second with Lexie Thompson third.

Emily Morgan was first in the 200 meters at 26.53 with freshman Brinn Jensen taking first in the 400 meters with a time of 57.86. Senior Michaella Hintze won the 800 meters at 2:15.46 and Starlee Woodbury took first place in the 60 meter hurdles at 8.80. The Wildcats finished with the top four spots in that event.

The Wildcats also won the 1600 meter relay, posting a time of 3:52.81.

There was a three-way tie for first in the high jump with Eden Richards,

Eden Richards won the high jump with a mark of 5-05.75, tied for the third best in the Big Sky this season, with Abbigael Brecht and Paige Cooper also posting the same mark. Freshman Emily Barnes took third in the pentathlon with 3,053 points in her first collegiate meet.

"We were very pleased with our young sprinters and hurdlers," said WSU head coach Paul Pilkington. "We had some great performances in lots of different positions. Overall it was a very good meet for us with great performances."

MEN

On the men's side the Wildcats totaled 206.5 points to finish ahead of Idaho State who had 137.5 and Southern Utah with 120.

Senior Joe Maloney recorded the top time in the conference in the mile at 4:09.58, with Tracen Warnick finishing second. The Wildcats had the top three spots in the 3,000 meters with Tyson Green taking first with a career best time of 8:, followed by Jacob Stone and Colton Rimann.

Junior Brandon Yardley took home first place in the 800 meters, posting a time of 1:56.63, which converts to the second fastest in the Big Sky this season.

Daunte Atkinson won the 400 meters and the Wildcats took first in the 1600 meter relay at 3:18.54, currently the fastest time in the Big Sky.

In the field events, Nathan Dunivan took first place in the shot put and the weight throw. He won the weight throw with a career best mark of 60-03.75, currently the second best in the Big Sky and the fifth best in WSU history. He also captured the title in the shot put with a mark of 54-03.75.

The Wildcats had the top four spots in the shot put with Keaton Pace taking first at 15-05. Brendan Shelley was second, followed by Trey Deveraux and Reece Lafaye.

"We looked a little stronger this week compared to our season opening meet in December," said WSU head coach Corbin Talley. "We saw a few more guys step up with some big improvements and we competed harder. We need to continued to focus on preparation, learn from each meet and stay positive, patient and unified."

Weber State will host a high school meet next week before returning to action. WSU will host the Wildcat Indoor Open Jan. 26-27. The Big Sky Indoor Championships will be Feb. 23-24 in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Summer Allen

Daunte Atkinson

Emily Barnes-Sterzer

Eden Deveraux

Nathan Dunivan

Tyson Green

Michaella Hintze

Brinn Jensen

Reece Lafaye

Joe Maloney

Emily Morgan-King

Keaton Pace

Colton Rimann

Candace Sharp

Brendan Shelley

Jacob Stone

Lexie Thompson

Paige Van Meeteren

Tracen Warnick

Starlee Woodbury

Brandon Yardley

Weber State University Athletics