EWU’s Monterola, WSU’s Fermin advance to nationals

Eastern Washington pole vaulter Keisa Monterola and Washington State sprinter Shawna Fermin advanced to the NCAA Track and Field Championships with their performances on Friday at the West Preliminary meet at Austin, Texas.

Monterola qualified for the women’s pole vault with an effort of 13-8 1/4 for 11th place. Fermin took third in her semifinal heat in the 400 meters with a time of 52.97 seconds, seventh fastest overall.

• Jheri Gates finished fifth in the women’s high jump at 5-7 and Frank Lima tied for eighth in the men’s high jump at 6-8 to score points for Whitworth at the NCAA Division III championships in Claremont, Calif. The meet concludes today.

Hockey

Darren Kramer, who recently completed his career with the Spokane Chiefs, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators.

He was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 Entry Draft.

Kramer, 20, will make $565,000, $600,000, and $635,000 over the three years if he makes the NHL team, according to the Ottawa Citizen.

In his two years with the Chiefs, Kramer, who was captain last season, had 30 goals and 24 assists along with 506 penalty minutes.