The Central Washington University track and field team delivered strong performances at the UW Preview in Seattle, with David Brown and Emy Ntekpere claiming top honors in their events. Multiple athletes from the Wildcats placed in the top ten across various competitions, highlighting the team's depth and potential. Coach praised standout efforts from freshmen and key performers alike.
The Central Washington University Wildcats competed at the UW Preview over the weekend in Seattle, Washington, showcasing impressive results in both men's and women's events.
David Brown led the men's hurdles, winning the 60-meter event with a final time of 8.08 seconds after a preliminary of 8.14 seconds. Teammates Ian Calhoon placed seventh in the final at 8.62 seconds, while Josh Boast improved to fifth at 8.39 seconds. In field events, Wes Kriete threw 15.88 meters for eighth in the weight throw and 14.83 meters for sixth in the shot put. Charles Pieper cleared 4.20 meters to finish sixth in the pole vault, and Cal'von Baker jumped 1.95 meters for fourth in the high jump, adding a ninth-place triple jump of 14.03 meters. Colton Magruder ran 6.88 seconds for fourth in the 60-meter dash final. Charles Naught clocked 4:29.06 for ninth in the mile. The men's 4x400-meter relay team, featuring Brown, Volle, Calhoon, and Boast, placed fifth in 3:23.20.
On the women's side, Emy Ntekpere dominated with a triple jump victory at 12.54 meters and second in the high jump at 1.70 meters. Maliyah Gordon earned third in the weight throw with 16.65 meters. Adalynn Claybrook cleared 3.45 meters for third in the pole vault, with Cariann Bryant fifth at 3.30 meters. Ashlyn Nielsen finished sixth in the 60-meter dash final at 7.70 seconds and fourth in the 200-meter dash at 24.67 seconds. The women's 4x400-meter relay, run by Harris, Castillejo, Huber, and DeGroot, took fourth in 3:54.53.
Coach commended the performances: "Maliyah Gordon was awesome and finished as the top collegiate in the meet. She's a big time athlete and is not intimidated by anything." On Boast: "Boogy executed really well and competed to win. He's rolling and it's fun to watch him gain confidence and win Power 4 meets." The coach also highlighted freshmen contributions and Ntekpere's technique: "Of course, Emy…She executed some new techniques REALLY well, particularly in the high jump. She set a new PR in her opener and sits atop the NCAA."
These results underscore the Wildcats' competitive edge against strong fields from conferences like the ACC and Big Ten.
