Eight Cougars to NCAA track meet

Washington State’s women’s team will field seven athletes in three events and the WSU men’s team will send long jumper Stephan Scott-Ellis to the NCAA Track & Field Championships which begin Wednesday at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Cougars’ highest-ranking athletes are both in the javelin, including Anna Adamko, who ranks 12th nationally with a throw of 159 feet, 7 inches, and Courtney Simmons, who is 15th at 159 feet, 2 inches.

Shawna Fermin comes into the NCAAs ranked 19th in the 400 meters with a time of 52.97 seconds. The Cougars’ 400-meter relay team of Shaquana Logan, Cindy Robinson, Candii McFarland and Chanel James ranks 20th with a time of 44.92 seconds.

Scott-Ellis is the 15th-ranked long jumper in the nation at 25-23/4.

Eastern Washington University pole vaulter Keisa Monterola is ranked 13th heading into Wednesday’s preliminary round.

In March, Monterola competed in the NCAA Indoor Championships and placed fifth with a height of 14-1 1/4. With a career-best of 14-4 (indoors), Monterola has been striving to clear a height of 14-5 1/4 and meet the Olympic Provisional qualifying standard. Her home country of Venezuela has promised her a spot on their Olympic team if she hits the mark.

Idaho’s Mike Marshall, of Yakima, will compete in the men’s javelin. Marshall has had a breakout season that includes a WAC individual title and a season-best mark of 230-6 that is 28 feet better than his 2011 best and ranks third all-time at Idaho.

Marshall ranks 25th in the nation entering the NCAAs.

Jim Allen