College Track Capsules

Washington State University

Head coach: Rick Sloan

1997 Pac-10 finish: sixth (men and women).

Returning conference champs: Bernard Lagat, 1,500 (3:41.98); Hilary Mawindi, long jump (25-2-1/2); Ian Waltz, discus (196-4) and shot put (61-8).

Schedule highlight: Pac-10 Championships at Stanford, May 23-24.

Notes: Sophomore long jumper Francesca Green won a Pac-10 title in 1996, as did junior decathlete Leo Slack… . The Cougars are coming off a thirdplace showing at the NCAA Indoor meet.

University of Idaho

Head coach: Mike Keller (men) and Yogi Weigel (women).

1997 Big West finish: first (men) and fifth (women).

Returning conference champs: Chris Kwaramba, triple jump (50-10-3/4); Oscar Duncan, javelin (212-2).

Schedule highlight: Mt. SAC Relays, April 17-19.

Notes: Tawanda Chiwira, the defending Big West champ in the 200 and 400, is redshirting with a foot injury.

Eastern Washington University

Head coach: Stan Kerr (men) and Marcia Mecklenberg (women).

1997 Big Sky finish: Fifth (men) and seventh (women).

Returning conference champs: Seville Broussard, 400 hurdles (59.60).

Schedule highlight: Pelluer Invitational, April 24, Cheney.

Notes: The EWU women have produced two of the last three Big Sky athletes of the week. Former North Central star Amber Johnson was recognized after running the second-fastest 5,000 in EWU women’s history, a 17:40.4 at last month’s Tri-Cities Sports Festival. Jamie Bellamy earned this week’s honor after setting a school record in the 800 with a 2:13.87 at Saturday’s UW Classic in Seattle… . EWU’s Adrienne Wilson also set a school record in Seattle. The ex-University High star went 19-0 in the long jump, breaking the record set last spring by teammate Taneka Sauls (18-11)… . The men received a boost with the announcement that junior hurdler Mike Dwyer has recovered from his knee injury and will not redshirt.

Community Colleges of Spokane

Head coach: Larry Beatty

1997 NWAACC finish: first (men) and second (women).

Returning conference champs: Tryllane Pool, discus; Erika Colin, 1,500;

Schedule highlight: NWAACC Championships, May 21-22, Spokane.

Notes: The Sasquatch will have trouble defending their conference men’s championship without Dusty Lane, who is redshirting… . Shawn Beitelspacher is a favorite in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters… . CCS women lead the conference in six events and rank second in four, giving third-year coach Larry Beatty reason to expect his team to win its first women’s title since 1991… . Whitney Schmaljohn, formerly of Central Valley, leads the NWAAC in the 100 (12.19) and 200 (24.69) meters… . Erika Colin, Christina Werther and Colleen Huck lead a group of distance runners that swept the top five spots in the 1,500 at last year’s conference meet.

Lasina Smith is the NWAACC’s top long jumper at 17 feet, 11-3/4 inches, and Cydny Edmunds leads in the shot put (42-7) while ranking a close second in the heptathlon.

Whitworth College

Head coach: Toby Schwarz

1997 NCIC finish: seventh (men) and sixth (women).

Returning conference champs: none.

Schedule highlight: NCIC Championships, May 1-2 at Linfield (Ore.) College.

Notes: Jeremy Whelham recently became a national qualifier with his 193-4 in the javelin. The NAIA standard is 192-0. Whelham’s brother, Nathan, won the 1990 NAIA javelin title with a throw of 211-11.