Pelluer High On High Jump
The men’s high jump could be the showcase event when Eastern Washington University plays host at the 26th Pelluer Invitational Friday afternoon at 4.
Six entrants have personal records of 6 feet, 10 inches and higher, led by Idaho’s Hugo Munoz, who has a season-best of 7-2-1/2 inches. Washington State’s Chris Rushing went 7-0-1/2 this month at Oregon.
EWU’s Andre Ervin, Idaho’s Geoff Judd, WSU’s Craig Allen and CC Spokane’s Jarrod Leckie round out the elite field.
Ervin has rebounded since struggling to a third-place finish at last year’s Big Sky Conference Championships. He cleared 6-11-3/4 three weeks ago, an improvement of 5 inches over his third-place performance.
The junior from Tacoma’s Mt. Tahoma High has improved his strength, conditioning and technique this season, EWU coach Stan Kerr said. As a result, Ervin is jumping more consistently.
“We changed his weight-lifting routine, added a lot more single-leg squats and put him in the pool more frequently to give his legs a rest,” Kerr said. “And we’ve spent a lot more time working on his approach.”
Ervin and Idaho’s Munoz will renew a rivalry that began when each jumped 7-1 at EWU’s Jan. 17 indoor meet.
Cougs pass at Penn Relays
WSU elected not to attend this weekend’s Penn Relays, meaning several top athletes will be at the Pelluer instead.
All-America thrower Ian Waltz has drawn the most attention from EWU officials, who were forced to re-locate the discus competition to the hammer cage in order to accommodate his superior marks.
Waltz has thrown an NCAA-leading 206 feet this season, which is about 6 feet longer than EWU’s discus ring.
“From the discus ring to the edge of the track is about 200 feet,” Kerr said, “so his bounce would be in lane one.”
Annual regional meet planned
WSU coach Rick Sloan has announced plans to hold an annual regional meet at Mooberry Track starting in 1999. The two-day meet would coincide with the Pelluer and include high school, junior college, college and open competitors.
“We want it to be one of most prestigious meets in the Northwest,” Sloan said. “We’re looking forward to that.”
Vandals play host Sunday
Idaho is hosting the McDonald’s Invitational on Sunday. WSU’s Palouse Team Invitational is May 2 and will feature Kansas and Boise State. Idaho and EWU visit WSU on May 9.