April 4, 2008

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Two Western Washington University freshmen distance runners, Sarah Porter (Hockinson) and Jordan Welling (Burlington/Burlington-Edison), had NCAA Division II national provisional qualifying efforts at the 34th annual Stanford University Track and Field Invitational on Friday.

Welling placed sixth in his heat of the men's 5,000 meters with a time of 14:39.09, and Porter finished 13th in her heat of the women's 5,000 in 17:38.86.

"Both of them ran solid races," said Western coach Pee Wee Halsell. "This should be a good confidence booster for each of them."

Porter had an outstanding indoor track season, breaking school records in the 5,000 (17:25.84) and mile (5:04.91) and placing 15th at nationals. She was the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year in cross country, placing 13th to earn all-region honors, and finishing 45th at nationals.

Welling earned all-conference honors in cross country, helping Western win the league title, place second at the West Regional and finish 11th at nationals.

Another Viking competing later today at the Stanford meet is defending NCAA Division II national champion women's javelin thrower Monika Gruszecki (So., Lynnwood/Meadowdale). Gruszecki, who took the national title in 2007 and earned All-America honors with a toss of 145-8, had a national provisional qualifying mark of 141-11 in her season debut on March 8. Her personal best is 146-10.

Two Vikings will be running tonight at the Willamette University Invitational in Salem, Ore. They are Bennett Grimes (So., Pocatello, ID/Century) in the men's 5,000 and Keever Henry (Sr., Kelso) in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The rest of the Western track and field squad takes part in the J.D. Shotwell Invitational on Saturday at Tacoma on the campus of host University of Puget Sound.

Western hosts the Spring Forward Multi-Events meet on Sunday (12 noon) and Monday (9 a.m.) at Bellingham's Civic Stadium.

Three Vikings are competing in the decathlon - Darren Edwards (So., Arlington), Alex Harrison (R-Fr., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway), and Kevin Iverson (Jr., Mill Creek/Jackson) - and Western's Clara Cook (Jr., Wenatchee) is participating in the heptathlon.