Idaho’s Klas places sixth in pole vault at NCAAs

EUGENE – Idaho senior Jeremy Klas placed sixth in the men’s pole vault Wednesday as the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships began at Hayward Field.

Klas, of Moscow High, cleared a school-record 18 feet, ½ inches in an event won by Sam Kendricks of Mississippi at 18-8 1/4. Kendricks had the top mark (19- 3/4) among collegians earlier this season.

Washington State senior Shawna Fermin completed her Cougars career with a 13th-place finish in the women’s 400 semifinals. The top eight advanced to Friday’s final.

Fermin ran a season-best 52.76. She ran her lifetime best (52.66) at last year’s Pac-12 Championships.

Idaho senior Liga Velvere finished fifth in her heat in the women’s 400 hurdles semifinals and didn’t advance to Friday’s finals.

Velvere finished in 59.28, the 14th-best mark in the semifinals but more than 2 seconds behind the final qualifying time.