EWU finds success in Willamette Valley

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Parker Bowden highlighted Eastern Washington University performances at the PNW Team Clash hosted by Oregon State University on Saturday, March 13. 

A senior from Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley, Bowden ran the second-fastest 110-meter hurdle time in the country thus far, with a legal time of 13.90 — a facility record, a school record and a personal record. Jonah Mathew also had a major performance, taking home a victory in the 100 meters with a time of 10.52. 

“Leading our performers today was Parker Bowden,” head coach Stan Kerr said. “His powerful and record-setting time in the 110 hurdles is something we knew he would do – though it’s a bit surprising that it happened at our first competition since the COVID shutdown.” 

For the women, Katrina Terry highlighted the meet with her first-place victory and personal record of 12-11 1/2 in the pole vault. Emmanuella Engle (Emmy) threw a big PR in the javelin throw with a mark of 156-11 to take second place. 

“It was a great first meet for us,” women’s head coach Marcia Mecklenburg said. “We had so many personal records it was hard to keep track of them.”

Other top performances for the men came from Daniel Gaik, making his freshman debut in the OSU opener by taking home a first-place finish in the 200 meters after running a time of 21.84. He also had a second-place finish in the 100 meters, following right behind Mathews, and running the time of 10.79.

Bobby Say took home two first-place finishes — first with a jump of 22-01 in the long jump, just two inches under his PR, then, Say won the triple jump with a PR of 48-04 3/4. Colton Kautz also took home two victories — first in the hammer throw with a personal record of 187-10, and then in the discus with a throw of 147-8. 

Benjamin Howard brought in another first-place finish for the Eagles in the men’s shot put with a PR of 49-05 1/2. Other first-place finishes included performances by Alex Bishop in the high jump, James Lane in the pole vault, Jayce Freeman in the 400 meters, also Quintin Porterfield, Grant Hannan, Chris Homen and Elijah Conley in the men’s 4x400 meter relay.

For the women, Madelyn Knight came through with Eastern’s second win of the day – a victory in the long jump with a jump of 17-10 1/4. Madison Wilson — a heptathlete like Knight — was third in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.10 and second in the high jump at 5-04 1/4.

Faith Kennedy finished second in the 200-meters while Vernice Keyes turned in a personal record of 180 feet in her first outing in the hammer. The women’s 4x100 team of Samiah Kuntz, Knight, Alyssa Hoffman and Katie Petsch also finished first with a time of 48.52.