WSU’s Picklers pick up big points

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Twins Diana and Julie Pickler are giving Washington State University a double boost of excitement at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Sacramento State University’s Hornet Stadium.

The sophomores opened strongly Friday during the first four events of the women’s heptathlon.

Diana, who entered with the nation’s sixth-best score in the heptathlon, stands in third place heading into today’s final three events. Julie, who came in with the fifth-best mark, enters today in sixth place.

Diana tied for the third-best mark in the high jump (5 feet, 8 3/4 inches); tied for fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (13.68 seconds); and placed sixth in the 200 (24.58). She piled up 3,485 points to trail leader Jessica Stockard of Georgia by 69.

Julie excelled at the 200, running 24.46 for the third-best effort in the sprint. She totaled 3,442 points.

University of Idaho senior Manuela Kurrat, whose 5,711 points at the Oregon Invitational in April gave her the nation’s second-best mark, is in 15th place with 3,295 points. Kurrat’s top event was the shot put, in which her mark of 43-2 1/2 trailed just one competitor.

Today’s final events – the javelin, long jump and 800 – are some of Kurrat’s favorites.

WSU had more to cheer about in the evening, as sophomore Tyson Byers (University High) placed fifth in the men’s pole vault at 17-8 1/2 . Winner Robison Pratt of Brigham Young University cleared 18- 1/2 .

Byers’ best effort had been 17-6 1/2 .

“I think this was a good step for next year,” Byers said. “On the last attempt at 18 feet, I just nicked the bar on the way down.”

Idaho sophomore Russ Winger provided another fifth-place effort, throwing 62-5 1/4 in the men’s shot put. Winger entered nationals with the 11th-best mark (63-5 1/2 ).

Shot put winner Edis Elkasevic of Auburn threw 68-6.

Wyoming senior Zack Schaefer (Community Colleges of Spokane) fouled all three times during the finals of the men’s hammer. Virginia Tech’s Spyridon Jullien won at 231-1.

Also at the meet, Marshevet Hooker ran the decisive anchor leg of Texas’ winning women’s 400 relay team, then 2 hours later won the 100. The sophomore’s performance put Texas in firm command of the team competition heading into the final day.