Western sweeps team titles at UPS Shotwell Invitational :: Men win third championship in three scoring meets

April 12, 2003

TACOMA, Wash. - The Western Washington University track and field teams swept both the men's and women's team titles at the University of Puget Sound Shotwell Invitational on Saturday at Baker Stadium.

Both the men and the women had two individual champions and each squad also won both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

"This was a good meet for us," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "We didn't really go in aiming to win the team championships - we held some people out and didn't double up very many. That shows some of the strength that we had."

It is the second time this year Western has swept the team titles, having done so in the Pacific Lutheran University Salzman Relays earlier this season. The Viking men are 3-for-3 in scoring meets, having won the WWU Ralph Vernacchia Team Classic last week.

Both of the Western women's relay teams posted season-bests. The 4x100 team of Dani Reid (Fr., Spokane/North Central), Dania Swosinski (Jr., Tacoma/Wilson), Laura Burch (So., McMinnville, OR) and Melissa Behrens (So., Redmond/Eastlake) was victorious in 48.65; and the 4x400 team of Swosinski, Burch, Nena Dodge (Jr., Bow/Burlington-Edison) and LeAnne Evans (Steilacoom) won in 4:03.45.

Also victorious for the women were Stacey Hopkins (Jr., Sammamish/Eastlake) in the javelin (128-4), and Amy Kruckeberg (Fr., Lake Stevens), who matched her season-best in the high jump (5-1 3/4).

Two of the men's victories established season-best marks. Jeff Luckstead (Fr., Walla Walla) won the 110 hurdles in 15.79, and the 4x400 relay team of Paul Danforth (Fr., Kent/Kennedy), Jacob Petz (Fr., Pullman), Chris McClung (Jr., Vancouver/Skyline) and Brian Sweeney (So., Seattle/Seattle Prep) were victorious in 3:27.26.

Scott Romney (So., Gig Harbor) matched his season-best in the pole vault (15-0), and the 4x100 team of Ed Kaeka (Fr., Tacoma/Spanaway Lake), Petz, Dustin Wilson (Fr., Silverdale/Central Kitsap) and McClung won in 43.44.

Western competes in the Central Washington Invitational next Saturday at Ellensburg.