UW Invitational Opens With Small Taste Share

UW Invitational Opens With Small Taste Share

All-American Scott Roth wins the elite title at the Pole Vault Summit in Reno.

Despite running virtually by herself after a long day of competition, Lindsay Kirschman (Enterprise High School, Redding, CA; Washington) still mustered up a 2:12.76 to dominate the 800-meters and cap off her first pentathlon in sixth-place.

Jan. 29, 2010

SEATTLE - The first session of the UW Invitational is in the books, and the stage has been set for Saturday's massive competition with a number of highlights from the Dempsey Indoor this evening. The women's pentathlon was started and completed Friday night, and the Huskies placed three in the Top-10 and earned two new Top-10 marks while still early in the year.

Sophomore Kelly McNamee of Spokane placed fourth overall with 3,524 points, just off her PR. Close behind her was Lindsay Kirschman, a former mid-distance runner that has now ventured into the multi-events in her senior year. Kirschman moved up 10 places to sixth overall on the strength of her outstanding 800-meter run to close the pentathlon. Her time of 2:12.76 was the best by six seconds over anyone else in the field, and she won her heat by seventeen seconds. That pushed her up to sixth place with 3,381 points, good for ninth in UW history. Freshman Sarah Schireman now sits 10th right behind Kirschman, as she posted 3,284 points in her first collegiate multi.

The night's top performance came courtesy of professional Molly Huddle, who ran the second-fastest 5,000-meters in Dempsey history. She streaked around the 307-meter oval in 15-minutes, 20.05 seconds to win by over 50 seconds.

The men's 5,000-metres was won by a U.S. Olympian, as Billy Nelson of the Oregon Track Club finished in 14:00.93. Washington junior Jordan Swarthout placed second overall in 14:40.64, four seconds ahead of the third-place finisher. American 5k record-holder Dathan Ritzenhein withdrew from the 5k early in the day.

Four of seven events were completed in the men's heptathlon, and Husky junior Andrew Ferleman currently sits seventh with 2,949 points. Ferleman capped his night with a major PR in the high jump, as he cleared 6-6, well beyond his previous best of 6-1 ¼. He also PR'd in the 60m dash, clocking 7.15.

The lion's share of competition comes on Saturday, with the first running events beginning at 9 a.m. The first finals come in the 11 o'clock hour with 60m dash and hurdle finals. The fastest heats from 200-meters up will then all be contested in a row starting at approximately 3:15.

ROTH WINS NATIONAL POLE VAULT SUMMIT
After thrilling the home fans two weeks ago with a new lifetime-best pole vault clearance, junior Scott Roth headed to Reno's annual National Pole Vault Summit where he captured the elite men's title. Roth's win came over one particular athlete he'll hope to defeat later this season, as he outjumped 2009 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor champion Jason Colwick of Rice. Roth was the runner-up to Colwick at the outdoor meet last year.

Roth cleared 18-feet on his first attempt and wound up being the only vaulter over the bar at that height to seal the win. He had the bar raised to a would-be PR of 18-9, but missed his three attempts. Still, another confidence builder in an already exciting season for the three-time All-American.

Courtesy Washington