NAMPA, Idaho -- Weber State's indoor track and field teams made some upward improvement on Friday and Saturday at the Jackson Invitational/New Balance West indoor meet.
Coach Jim Blaisdell's women posted 23 seasonal best times/marks and had eight athletes qualify for the 2012 Big Sky Conference indoor championships.
The two biggest races, however, came up in Seattle, Wash., at the UW Husky Invitational. Friday, juniors Sarah Callister and Taylor Thornley competed in the 5,000 meters. Callister had a 42-second improvement from her career best, running 16:29.25. That is the second-fastest time in WSU school history and fifth fastest in Big Sky history, and currently the fifth fastest in the NCAA ranks this season. Thornley was right behind, with a time of 16:29.66; the sixth fastest this year in the nation.
Saturday afternoon, junior Amber Henry shattered the WSU record in the indoor 3,000 meters in 9:12.65. The old record was 9:21.21 set in 2008 by Sariah Long. Henry was the top collegian in the race, and is the fifth fastest this season in the nation. Her time is the second-fastest in Big Sky history.
At the Jackson Invitational, Kristen Billings (25.25) and Amanda Alston (25.28) each qualified in the 200 meters. Ashley Kealamakia qualified in the 800 meters in a time of 2:13.80. In field events, Kassie Reynolds qualified in the 20-pound weight throw with a career-best toss of 52-9.50, the second-best mark in school history. Ashley Bartlett qualified in the high jump (5-4.25).
"We had a really solid meet in Idaho," Blaisdell said. "We had seven new qualifiers and were either tenths of seconds or inches away in some other events, so we've made great progress. The performances by Amber, Sarah and Taylor up in Washington were just spectacular. They have really set a high standard for themselves and the rest of the conference to chase the rest of the year."
The women has several top-10 school record performances. Laken Hintze ran a personal best, and the fifth best time in WSU school history, in the mile run in 4:54.38. Elisa Isakson had the third best pole vault mark in WSU history with a jump of 10-8., and Kyle Davies tied for the fifth best jump in school history at 10-6.00. The 4x400-meter relay team also posted its fastest time of the year in 3:51.55.
On the men's side, coach Dan Walker's group had four qualifying times. Matt White qualified in the 200 meters in 22.03. Dustin Durfee qualified in the 400 meters with a career-best time of 49.13. Jonathan McUne improved his personal best time in the 60-meter hurdles, running 8.26. That is the sixth best time in school history.
Zach Parry and Derek Harrebomee each qualified in the 35-pound weight throw. Parry finished second in the meet with a toss of 59-4.75. Harrebomee was third with a toss of 56-10.75. Dustin Martin was third with a toss of 56-10, also a new personal record. It is the fifth best mark in WSU school history.
"We continued to improve in all areas," said Walker. "We made some great strides in practice over the past two weeks and it showed today. Our weight throwers went 2-3-4 which was good. We had some times, and marks, which were really close but we now have three straight meets to work on getting those below the qualifying level."
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