Small squad runs well at Twilight Meet
Contact: Erik Snyder (360) 867-6537
snydere@evergreen.edu
Sports Information Director
The Evergreen State College
April 28, 2006
BELLINGHAM , Wash. The Evergreen track team brought a small but potent squad to Western Washington University 's Twilight Meet this weekend. The Geoduck women finished eighth and the men seventh as both teams prepare for the Cascade Conference Championships this weekend.
Freshman Kyle Mershlich started the evening off right for Evergreen as he posted a season's best throw of 164'4 in the javelin to finish in second place. In the process he set a new school record.
Patrick Murphy placed 18th in the 1500 meters and 12th later in the day in the 5000 meters setting personal bests in both events. Murphy posted a time of 4:42.31 for the 1500 meters and 18:11 in the 5000 meters.
Miguel Pineda entered the 400 and 800 meter races to work on his speed for the mile race at the conference championships. Pineda finished seventh in both events. He clocked a 52.72 in the quarter mile and dipped below the two-minute barrier in the 800 meters for the first time in his career. His time of 1:59.84 is just four tenths of a second off Evergreen's school record in the event.
Kelsey Blair, Rachel Williams and Haley Pecora all competed in the 3000 meter steeple chase with Blair and Williams running for Evergreen while Pecora ran unattached. It was an exciting 3-wayrace for second place as Blair and Williams kicked hard to catch the second place runner from Western. Blair hurdled thefinal barrier perfectly, putting her cleanlyinto second place with a time of 12:46.60, shattering her previous best by over 30 seconds. Williams finished fourth in her first steeple chase at 12:48.61 while Pecora claimed sixth with a season's best time of 14:41.88.
Freshman Cayenne MacKillop posted a20:07 in the 5000 meters, claiming fourth place and setting a new personal mark in the event.
Liesl Plomski rounded out the individual events for Evergreen with her best time in the 800 meters in two seasons running a 2:39.70.
The women's team distance runners also put together a 4 x 400 relay, becoming the first group to represent Evergreen in the event since the mid-1980's. Liesl Plomski, Cayenne MacKillop, Rachel Williams and Kelsey Blair posted a 4:49 in the event.