Hannah Greene | Sports Editor
This last weekend, Jan. 25 and 26, the Western Track and Field team stuck closer to home, competing at the University of Portland. This was the first time any of the Wolves had ever competed here and what a surprise it was.
Entering into the facility, everything sparkled and seemed new and exciting until one saw the track. The track was not banked, having a slight tilt, and there were only three lanes, making each heat very small or too crowded. Spectators had a difficult time viewing the competitions due to the basketball stands being built on the outside of the lanes, causing blocked views all the way around. There were small gaps where viewers could see runners, and after a few seconds they were out of view. This track measured out to be 240 meters, comparative to University of Washington’s 307 meters and Washington State University’s which is 200 meters, making it difficult for runners to keep track of where they actually were in their race. Though the track was different the Wolves proved to overcome and make it the top results.
In the Men’s 800 Hunter Hutton, sophomore, placed second with a time of 1:56.4, followed by Emmett Klus, first year, and Trey Reed, junior, taking sixth and seventh.
Hunter Mosman, a junior, placed seventh overall in the Men’s 3000 with a time of 8:41.83 — Mosman’s first time running the 3K since high school. The Wolves’ 4×400 meter relay men’s team took first with a time of 3:24.75, starting with Deshaun Stevens, a first year, to Reed, to Klus and finishing with Max Carmona, sophomore. The Wolves also had men that finished with top marks in the high jump, long jump and weighted throw.
In the Women’s 60 meter dash, Maya Hopwood, first-year, took first with a time of 7.62 and first in the 200 meter dash with a time of 26.10. Following those, Ana Popchock, a junior, and Bethanie Altamirano, sophomore, took ninth and tenth in the 400 meter dash.
In the mile event, Jillian Greene, first-year, placed second with a time of 5:10.79. The 60 meter hurdles called for two Wolves placing, both Popchock and Jenelle Hurley, first-year. Kalulusno Ngaida, sophomore, took first again in the high jump followed by Hurley and Darian Wilson, a junior, in the long jump. Ending the women’s events was Moana Gianotti, junior, who threw 15.06 meters in the weighted throw, placing first overall.
Next week the Wolves head back up to Washington to compete in the University of Washington Invitational on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu
Photo by Hannah Greene
