News

Vikings wrap up regular season at Ken Shannon Invite in Seattle

Photo: WWU Athletics


SEATTLE, Wash. – Western Washington University senior sprinter Daniel Jones moved into the program top 10 with a career-best time in the 100m and sophomore Bryant Welch equaled his 8th-best time in program history in the 200m to highlight the Vikings performances at the Ken Shannon Invitational on Saturday at Husky Outdoor Track.

The event concluded the Vikings 2019 regular season, with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships to be held next weekend in Monmouth, Oregon.

Jones, a senior out of Ferndale High School, finished 6th out of 11 runners in the 100m with a personal-best time of 10.84 to tie for 9th-best in WWU history. Racing in the first of two heats, Jones ran with a +3.2 tailwind, which is under the 4.0 allowed by the NCAA for qualification standards. Senior Angelo Fernandez (Kent, WA/Kentwood) placed 8th also setting a personal-best in 11.22 (+1.8 wind).

Welch (Burien, WA/Mount Rainier) finished 4th out of 13 competitors in the 200m equaling his personal-best time of 21.80 set at last year’s Ken Shannon Invitational. The mark last year was obtained with a +4.2 wind reading, so this will enter the WWU record book as 8th-fastest in program history.

Jones concluded a solid two weeks where he has set personal-best marks in the 400m Ralph Vernacchia Track & Field Meet), 200m and 100m (both on Saturday). Jones ran his first sub-11-second 100m and sub 22-second 200m of his career, placing 4th in the 200m on Saturday in 21.94, just outside of the program top-10. Sophomore Myles Smith (Puyallup, WA) finished 6th in 22.40 and Fernandez was 8th in the 200m clocking a personal-best time of 22.66 (previous best was 23.11).

Former Viking All-American and school record holder Alex Donigian placed 2nd in the 100m in 10.46.

Freshman Ryan Witters (Bothell, WA) won the 400m in 51.20 and junior Cordell Cummings (Lake Stevens, WA/Arlington) won the 400m Hurdles in 52.62.

On the women’s side, the Vikings had five javelin throwers finish in the top 10 in the 12-competitor field. Junior Raquel Pellecer (Sandy, OR) finished 3rd with a top mark of 43.60m/143-0 and sophomore Natalie Vetto (Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington) was 7th with a top throw of 42.05m/137-11. Former Viking All-American and national champion Bethany Drake, competing for Oiselle, won the women’s javelin with a top throw of 48.15m/158-0.

Recent Headlines

13 hours ago in Sports

Inside the numbers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ties Wilt Chamberlain’s 20-point streak record

Wilt Chamberlain has some NBA records that might never get touched, like the 100-point game, 4,000 points in a season and a 50-point-per-game scoring average. And that means that when he does get caught — in any category — it's a big deal.

1 day ago in Sports

Tatis’ grand slam, 6 RBIs leads Dominican Republic over Israel 10-and into WBC quarterfinals

Fernando Tatis hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, and the Dominican Republic clinched a spot in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals with a 10-1 win over Israel on Monday in Miami.

1 day ago in Sports

Kenneth Walker joins Mahomes in KC and Malik Willis starts QB reset in Miami, AP sources say

Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is the new running back for Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, Miami settled on Malik Willis for a reset at quarterback and receiver Mike Evans is leaving Tampa Bay after 12 years.

2 days ago in Sports

George Russell wins Formula 1’s Australian GP as Mercedes goes 1-2

Mercedes' George Russell won a thrilling season-opening Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, with teammate Kimi Antonelli following him home, after a double-stacked pit stop under the virtual safety car outmaneuvered a lightning-quick start by Ferrari.

4 days ago in Sports, Trending

Ohtani has grand slam, 5 RBIs as Japan routs Taiwan 13-0 in its WBC opener

Shohei Ohtani doubled on the first pitch of the game, then hit a go-ahead grand slam and an RBI single in a 10-run second inning to lead defending champion Japan over Taiwan 13-0 Friday night in its World Baseball Classic opener.