March 8, 2008

Complete Results

TACOMA, Wash. - Megan Zukowski (Fr., Maple Valley/Tahoma) anchored a 4x100 meter relay that won in meet record time and defending national champion Monika Gruszecki (So., Lynnwood/Meadowdale) had a national provisional qualifying mark in the javelin, helping Western Washington University place second in the women's division at the University of Puget Sound Joe Peyton Invitational Track and Field Meet on Saturday at Baker Stadium.

The Vikings, who were making their outdoor debut, had five individual winners in winning the men's division, 192-156, over defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion Central Washington in the six-team field. Host Puget Sound was third (119).

The Western women finished just six points behind defending GNAC titlist Seattle Pacific, 158-152, with Central Washington third (128).

"It was a very good start for us," said Viking head coach Pee Wee Halsell. "It was very encouraging."

Zukowski, who placed second in both the 100 (12.64) and 200 (26.04) meter dashes, helped Western to a 48.79 clocking in the 4x100 relay. That victorious quartet also included Heidi Dimmitt (Jr., Wenatchee), Sarah Brownell (Fr., Yelm) and Joana Houplin (Fr., Olympia).

Zukowski also ran the second leg on the runner-up 4x400 relay (4:00.5) with Dimmitt, Brownell and Megan O'Connell (Fr., Sammamish/Skyline).

Gruszecki placed fourth in the javelin despite having a provisional qualifying throw of 141-11.

Gail Butler (Jr., Issaquah) finished first in the long jump (16-9 3/4). Dimmitt was second in the 400 hurdles (1:04.02) as were Cheryl Watson (Fr., Olympia) in the 800 (2:23.05) and Michelle Howe (Fr., Lakewood) in the 100 hurdles (15.44).

Event winners for the Western men were Matt O'Connell (So., Sammamish/Skyline) in the 400 (50.52), Kevin Myhre (Jr., Edmonds/Meadowdale) in the 400 hurdles (56.46), Keefe Brockman (Fr., Richland/Hanford) in the high jump (6-2 3/4), Ryan Brown (Fr., Bellingham/Squalicum) in the pole vault (14-11) and Tim Satterwhite (So., Federal Way/Thomas Jefferson) in the triple jump (43-7 1/4).

Brockman was second in the triple jump (42-3 1/4) as was Myhre in the 110 hurdles (16.36).

Other runner-ups for the Vikings were Keith Lemay (Sr., Lynden/Lynden Christian) in the 1500 (4:05.09), Ben Wargo (So., Pullman) in the 400 hurdles (57.86), Josh Winters (So., Bothell) in the pole vault (14-5 1/4), and Michael Hoffman (Fr., Bellingham/Sehome) in the discus (139-2).

Western takes a week off before competing in the Spring Break Open on March 22 at Edmonds.