Multiple records fall at WAR IV meet at SFCC

WAR IV – the fourth installment of the Washington-against-the-region college track extravaganza at Spokane Falls Community College on Saturday – was the biggest yet.

And undeniably the best.

Meet records fell in 23 of the 38 events for men and women, and the Washington schools again teamed for a romp over the visitors from beyond the border.

Led by Eastern Washington’s 129 points, state schools swept the first four men’s places for a 491-244 win over the region schools. On the women’s side, Idaho’s women led the way with 124.25 points, but Washington prevailed 495.96-244.04 over the region teams.

As might be expected in a meet with more than 1,100 athletes, only two athletes were double winners – Washington State’s Ramsey Hopkins in the men’s high hurdles (14.64 seconds) and long jump (22 feet, 8 inches), and Eastern Washington’s Erica Chaney in the women’s shot put (46-8) and discus (154-8).

In the record-breaking department, Idaho led the way with six – although most of it was bunched up in the longer women’s races.

Lauren Schaffer and Latvian newcomer Liga Velvere had a hand in two records each. Both ran legs on the Vandals’ 4x400-meter relay team (3:52.93) after Schaffer won the 800 (2:09.33) and Velvere made her first dip under a minute in the 400 hurdles (59.30).

Idaho also got records from freshman Hannah Kiser in the 1,500 (4:30.43) and Alycia Butterworth in the steeplechase (10:59.89).

But perhaps the most impressive mark on the women’s side belonged to freshman Stephenie Cummings of host Community Colleges of Spokane, who took more than a half-second off the school record – and two off the meet mark – in the 400 meters, clocking 55.06.

The Sasquatch had a couple of strong efforts on the men’s side, with Jesse Jorgensen leading teammate Jasen Brown in a 1-2 sweep of the 800 in a record 1:50.97 and both doubling back to help the 4x400 relay team lop nearly 5 seconds off the meet mark in 3:15.08.

All four records in the men’s throws fell, two to Whitworth athletes Carter Comito (discus, 184-3) and Alexander Hymel (javelin, 216-4).

Eastern Washington’s Brad Wall broke the men’s 400 record (48.08) and ran a leg on the record-setting 4x100 relay team (41.59).