On April 14, some of the university’s track and field competitors went down to Greeley, Colorado for the NoCo challenge. Though UW did not send many athletes down for the meet, a few left with personal bests.
“I had several throwers hit personal bests, a few more hit season bests,” Lane said. “But we’re now kind of past the early season meets, so you’re starting to see a sharpening of how they’re preparing for the meet, how they have nailed down their routines and technique; they’re a little more automatic. That’s what I’m seeing out of the group as a whole”
According to a GoWyo article by Nate Lake, Hap Frketich marked a new personal best in the hammer throw, in which he placed second with a throw of 173 feet, 5 inches. Teammate Garrett Lynch took fifth in the event. Lynch also threw shot put in which he placed third, and discus where he was the runner-up.
Though the Damon and Kirk Unland did not compete in the meet, according to Lake, they were ranked first and third, respectively, in the Mountain West top-10 after this meet. Teammates Frketich and Lynch also left ranked in the event, with Frketich ranked sixth and Lynch ranked 10th.
“There are some people who kind of crack under pressure, but these guys don’t, they rise to the occasion,” throws coach Carrie Lane said of the Unland brothers.
Another thrower, this time for the ladies, also hit a PR at the NoCo challenge. Addison Henry not only placed fourth in shot put, but she also bested herself with a throw of 45 feet, 8 inches. Henry also placed seventh in the women’s hammer throw. The final thrower for UW was Tori Sleep, who placed eighth in discus.
Yet another PR was set, this time by Leighton Lanier, who leaped 20 feet, 8.5 inches on his way to sixth place in long jump. Fellow Cowboy Kyle Alexander placed second in the event. That due also competed in triple jump, in which Alexander placed fifth and Lanier took home seventh place. For the women, Allegra Carson placed sixth in the event.
Savannah Phillips threw in another personal best, with her time of 1:1.10 in her 400-meter race, where she finished in fifth place. Madison Ashworth also bested herself in high jump, placing sixth with a jump of 5 feet, 3.75 inches. Teammates Marie Doherty, Sofia Hof, Hannah Bertelson, and Karlin Rufenacht also competed in the event: Hof took eighth place, Doherty and Bertelson tied for 10th, and Rufenacht finished in 14thplace. Rounding out PRs was Doherty with a time of 1 minute, 4.84 seconds on her way to sixth place in the 400 hurdles.
The rest of the athletes, though not marking PRs, still competed well at the meet. Jacob Harthun finished 13thin the 200-meter race. Harthun, along with Jace Markx, Kevin Blackett and Sam Kirkeide, were runner-ups in the 4×100 relay.
For the girls, Ashley Urman competed in the 800-meter run, coming in third place, and Sarah Bentlage finished sixth in the 1500.
The Cowboys will be competing in California beginning on Thursday, April 19, where Damon Unland, who has consistently finished at the top, is prepared to see some real competition.
“It’s kind of my chance to actually see how well I am during the season, and see where I’m at this season,” Unland said. “Hopefully with this warm weather I’ll be feeling more comfortable, and hopefully be able to unleash some far throws. I’m also really excited to see some good competition down there, too.”
Lane echoed his thoughts on the warm weather, as the Pokes prepared for the busy week ahead scattered over multiple towns in California.
“The predictable weather, I think, is key,” Lane said. “You just know what you’re going to get, so it’s just one less, kind of, distraction.”
