[Spokane, WA.] In what is one of the longest sport seasons on campus the Sasquatch track and field squads make final preparation for the 2024 NWAC Conference Championships held on May 20-21 at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon.
A total of twenty-five men and twenty-five women will make the journey to conference which began clear back on December ninth here in Spokane at The Podium indoor track facility, a sixty-million-dollar track complex that the Sasquatch are fortunate to both practice in two days a week and to have the majority on its meet inside of each weekend.
The 2024 version of the track team consists of one its largest team in years. The men’s roster totaled forty-five student athletes, while the women’ roster held thirty-six. These numbers have directly led to one of the best seasons in recent years. Talent and depth have been the hallmark of this year’s squads.
Here are the highlights to date.
Twelve Student athletes have earned NWAC Athlete of the Week Honors in Track and Field they are:
| Name |
Event |
Week |
Significant Mark |
| Liz Soto |
400m |
May12 |
58.92 |
| Christian Hansen |
200m |
May 2 |
21.81 |
| Zach Merrifield |
100m |
April 24 |
10.64 |
| Saira Schoener |
Javelin |
April 24 |
152’ 10.25” |
| Lizbeth Soto |
400m |
April 24 |
59.59 |
| Zach Merrifield |
100m |
April 17 |
10.72 |
| Kaley Bohl |
1500m |
April 17 |
4:47.04 |
| Mary Nakanura |
3K Steeple |
April 10 |
11:33.80 |
| Jacob Goude |
Decathlon |
March 27 |
5418 |
| Afton Wood |
Heptathlon |
March 27 |
3477 |
| Camille Ussher |
1500m |
March 27 |
4:45.14 |
| Madison Carr |
Shot |
March 21 |
42’ 7.50” |
School Records have been broken by:
Gavin Hoskinson Indoor Pole Vault 15’ 9.25”
Shaun Salveson Indoor 300m Dash 35.36
Significant Performances for the year include:
Camille Ussher 1500m time of 4:40.56 ranks tenth all-time.
Saira Scheoner javelin throw of 152’ 10” ranks second all-time.
Gavin Hoskinson pole vault of 16’ .75” ranks number fourth all-time
Dan Close discus throw of 166’8” ranks number fourth all-time.
Mega Points in the Distance Events
The distance crew is stacked on both the men’s and women’s side heading into the conference championships. In the 1500m Camille Ussher, Kaley Bohl, Mary Nakamura lead the team who have six out of the top seven times in this event. In the 800m same story as the ladies have the top six times heading into the conference meet. In the 3k steeplechase Mary Nakamura’s time of 11:33.8 leads the event by over a minute. In the 5k Sophia Ferraro sits in second, Emma Gray is fourth and Andie Bell is in sixth.
On the men’s side it is even more amazing. Colin Wright and Bruno Kipsang led the way in the 800m sitting third and fifth, with Donavyn Adair sitting seventh, Adair is having a breakout season notching big personal bests in every race he has run. Luke Hurd is ranked number one in the 10K and has the seventeenth best mark all-time in the school record book. The men also have four of the top nine times heading into the 3k steeplechase. Defending champ Borg sits in third with teammates Darian Slack in fifth, Zach Kness in seventh and Cy Hulen in ninth and looking to score as well.
The Sasquatch men have earned three NWAC athlete of the year honors in the last three championships, they include:
- J.J. Curry in 2019- Curry swept the 100,200, 4x100, 4 x400 titles.
- Bradley Fillis 2022- Fillis won the shot, discus, and hammer throw.
- Jaxson Nichols 2023- Nichols won the decathlon and high jump, scored thirty-four points.
In this year’s version of the championships both men and women have several candidates that could content for the NWAC Athlete of the year title. Those to watch include:
- Liz Soto- she will compete in the 400m, 4 x 100 Relay. Long Jump, 200m and 4 x 400 Relay.
- Camille Ussher- 800m, 1500m, 4 x 400 relay
- Mary Nakamura- 3k steeple, 1500
- Emma Glanzer- will compete in the Long and triple jump, the high jump and the 200m.
- Madison Carr- will compete in the hammer, shot and discus throws ranked in the top four in all.
- Christian Hansen- will compete in the 200, 4 x 100 relay and the 4 x 400 relay.
- Zach Merrifield- will see action in the 100, 4 x 100 Relay and possibly the 4 x 400 relay.
It should be an exciting conclusion to the season, as both teams have a chance at bringing home a championship trophy. Live results and meet result link are available at nwacsports.com and live.athletictiming.net/meets/38209