University of Washington
Mt. SAC Relays
Planell Cruz Hits Olympic Standard At Mt. SAC
April 17, 2016 | Track & Field
Mt. SAC Relays Live Results | Beach Invitational Results
SEATTLE - The Huskies had another full day with numerous season-bests at the Beach Invitational and the Mt. SAC Relays today, but it was a former Husky, just a few weeks removed from her last meet as a Dawg, that stole the show today in SoCal. Diamara Planell Cruz, who wrapped her collegiate career at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships, made the Olympic Standard in the women's pole vault today, making the height that should earn her an Olympic Games trip for Puerto Rico.
Planell Cruz won the invitational pole vault section at Mt. SAC, clearing 14-9 on her very first attempt. This was just her second meet as a post-collegiate athlete, after taking third at NCAA Indoors with a UW school record of 14-7 1/4, her overall best until this afternoon.
The sprinters continued to find some season-bests in Long Beach today. Senior Naivasha Sophusson Smith got under 14-seconds in the 100m hurdles for the first time this year, going 13.98 to finish 13th out of more than 90 entrants. Kimberly Stueckle also got a wind-aided season-best of 14.24. Chris Williams ran a matching 14.24 in the men's 110m hurdles.
The Husky long hurdlers had a trio of season-bests as well. Freshmen Morganne Hill and Carly Lester both set PRs. Hill was 11th in the 400m hurdles with a 1:00.92, and Lester was close behind at 1:01.06, nearly a full second PR. On the men's side, Kaid Tipton had a 54.40 second season-best.
In the short sprints, senior Travis Marshall was 11th in another massive field at 100-meters, going 10.76 with a +2.6 tailwind. Lucas Strong also ran a 10.94, wind-legal. Senior Quadelle Satterwhite was fifth out of 83 sprinters in the men's 200-meters, running a season-best 21.40 despite a -1.9 headwind, and junior Andrew Brown went 21.71 into another headwind, just 0.11 off his PR. For the women, Cydnicia Wade lowered her career-best at 200-meters to 24.53 seconds.
One day after breaking 55-seconds for the first time, Alexis Ford ran another open 400-meters. She did not break her PR again, but did post the second-best time of her career, going 55.31.
In the women's pole vault at Long Beach, sophomore Kaitlin Zinsli hit the 13-foot mark for the first time, making 13-0 ¼ on her third attempt. Tori Franzen also had a first attempt make of 12-6 ¼ and had three tries at the 13-foot bar herself. Jessica Goodkin cleared an outdoor best of 12-0 ½.
Kate Adler had a new outdoor PR in the long jump, touching down at 18-4 ¼. Jaleecia Roland had a triple jump of 39-0 ¼.
One meet after hitting the 60-foot mark for the first time as a Dawg, senior Frank Catelli was less than an inch off again, as he went 59-11 ¼ on his sixth and final throw to take third overall. He added a discus toss of 161-3 while Dan Boyden threw 157-0. In the women's throws, Gina Flint continued her comeback, tossing the disc 152-11 and going 46-10 in the shot.
One of the only Huskies still competing at the Mt. SAC Relays today was Casey Burns, who got his first outdoor mark of the season, going 50-2 1/2 in the triple jump invitational, with a tailwind. His wind-legal best was 49-1 3/4.
Players Mentioned
