The Washington Huskies track and field team recorded eight season-best performances, including three program Top-10 marks, at the Desert Heat Classic held at Roy P. Drachman Stadium in Tucson, Arizona on May 2.
This event served as the final regular-season meet for the Huskies before they head to the Big Ten Outdoor Championships scheduled for May 15-17 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The meet allowed sprinters, throwers, and jumpers from Washington to prepare for upcoming championship competition.
Junior Ava Washburn contributed two of the three Top-10 program marks by achieving personal records in both the long jump and triple jump. Washburn’s long jump of 20 feet, 8 inches moved her to No. 5 in school history with the best mark by a Husky since 2007. She later posted a triple jump of 40 feet, 9½ inches, ranking seventh all-time for Washington. Freshman Addy Kelly also set a season-best triple jump mark at 39 feet, 7¼ inches.
Other notable results included Roman Hutchinson placing third overall in men’s triple jump with a leap just two inches off his personal record and Trevontay Smith finishing fourth. Sofia Cosculluela improved her personal record in the women’s heptathlon’s 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.31 seconds while maintaining her No.1 national ranking.
Additional highlights featured Jonathan Frazier and Anna Terrell posting season-bests in their respective men’s and women’s 400-meter hurdles events; Ashley Schroeder throwing over 170 feet for her third consecutive meet in women’s javelin; Leland Lieberg tying for highest clearance of the day in men’s high jump; Hana and Amanda Moll going first and second respectively among women pole vaulters despite windy conditions; and Jimmy Rhoads clearing seven heights up to an impressive vault of over eighteen feet.
