Huskies Break NCAA Record In 4x800m At Penn Relays

Saturday, April 27

Philadelphia, PA

9:30 AM

University of Washington

Penn Relays

April 27, 2024 | Track & Field

By: UW Athletic Communications

Penn Relays Results | Payton Jordan Invitational Results | Fresno State Invitational Results

PHILADELPHIA – For the second time this year, the Washington women have rewritten the NCAA recordbooks. The Huskies broke the distance medley relay NCAA Record indoors in February, and today they set a new NCAA Record in the 4x800-meter relay, in the process winning the program's first ever Penn Relays Championship of America title.

Marlena Preigh, Wilma Nielsen, Samantha Friborg, and Chloe Foerster combined to win the 4x800m Championship of America at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, running a time of 8:17.28 that was just under the 8:17.45 time set by Villanova in 2013.

It was a dramatic finish fitting for a collegiate record, as UW and Providence were battling on the final lap. Providence had a half-step edge but dropped its baton with about 50 meters to go and was DQ'd. Duke in second-place was 11 seconds behind the Huskies, in 8:28.37.

??h?? ?????????????? ???????? h????????????

? NCAA Record 4x800-meter relay time of 8:17.28
? First Penn Relays Wheel in program history

Splits in order
?? Marlena Preigh, 2:07.94
?? Wilma Nielsen, 2:05.06
?? Sam Friborg, 2:02.12
?? Chloe Foerster, 2:02.17#GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/kLHFSKTB7b
— Washington Track & Field and Cross Country (@UWTrack) April 27, 2024

Splits were 2:07.94 on the opening carry for Preigh, then 2:05.06 for Nielsen. Friborg had a massive 2:02.12 to bring the Huskies back into the front with Providence, and then Foerster anchored in 2:02.17.

Foerster and Preigh were both on the collegiate record-breaking DMR indoors as well.

Earlier in the day, the Huskies placed seventh in the 4x1500 Championship of America. The team of Haley Herberg, Julia David-Smith, India Weir, and Ella Borsheim ran 18:04.26.

Fresno State Invitational

Chandler Ault ?????????????????? javelin bomb! ????

2?5?1? feet ... the farthest by a Husky in 13 years

The #?2? mark in school history, and #?7? in the NCAA this year! ??#GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/U6Q6ktyUne
— Washington Track & Field and Cross Country (@UWTrack) April 28, 2024

Washington also had a stellar day at the Fresno State Invitational, highlighted by the No. 2 marks in school history in the men's javelin and women's discus, the No. 3 women's triple jump in school history, and more event wins in the women's pole vault, men's triple jump, men's high jump, and the men's 400-meter hurdles.

Chandler Ault fired the best throw by a Husky in the javelin in 13 years, and No. 2 toss ever, becoming just the second Dawg to surpass 250-feet. Ault went 251-1 on his third attempt, just two feet shy of the School Record of 253-5 set by three-time All-American Kyle Nielsen in 2011. Ault now climbs up to No. 7 in the NCAA and the USA this season with that toss. Ault's second-best today was also beyond his former PR, as he went 245-10 in round two.

In the women's discus, Beatrice Asomaning moved up to No. 2 at UW with a new personal-best of 186-feet that she connected on her sixth and final attempt. Like Ault, Asomaning also had an earlier throw past her old best, as she went 185-9 in round three, initially bettering her old PR of 183-7 from the 2022 season. Asomaning, the indoor School Record-holder in the weight throw, is now No. 2 outdoors in both the discus and the hammer throw. In the discus, she only trails UW Hall of Famer and four-time Olympian Aretha Thurmond.

The other new top-three mark for the records came from Lauren Heggen in the women's triple jump. Heggen PR'd for the third meet in a row, getting a best of 41-7 on her sixth round jump. That moved her from No. 5 to No. 3 in school history and is the best mark by a Husky since 2014.

For the second time this season, the Huskies had a 1-2-3 finish in the men's 400-meter hurdles. Freshmen Jonathan Frazier and Boden Hanley each posted personal-bests, Frazier going 51.63 for the win and Hanley running 52.06 in second, with Matthew Wilkinson taking third in 52.66. On the women's side, freshman Kapiolani Coleman took second-place, dipping under 60-seconds for the second time, at 59.88.

Trevontay Smith and Kunle Akinlosotu went 1-2 in the men's triple jump, both getting out to 50-feet. Smith won with a best of 50-2 ½, and Akinlosotu went 50-0 ½. Roman Hutchinson was fifth with a best of 48-0 ¾, a season's-best.

The Dawgs dominated both the men's and women's pole vaults once again. On the women's side, the Huskies had five of the top-six, led by national champ Hana Moll who made 14-9 ½ today. Nastassja Campbell was second at 14-1 ¾, and Sara Borton was third making 13-9 ¾. Amanda Moll was fifth at 13-3 ¾, and Avril Wilson made 12-10 for sixth.

Former Dawg Jacob Englar, who continues to train with UW coach Toby Stevenson, won the men's vault at 17-7 ¾, and Max Manson was second at 17-3 ¾, with Simon Park third at an even 17-feet.

Sophomore Leland Lieberg got the victory in the men's high jump, tying his collegiate best from just last week, as he made 6-7 ½ once again.

Kaia Tupu-South had a solid double in the shot put and the discus. She was second overall in the shot put with a toss of 53-8 ½, then she came back for her first discus competition of the season and threw 171-8 for fifth-place.

Danielle Hunter also did double duty in the sprints. She had a 100-meter time of 11.81 that puts her No. 9 in school history, and she then had a 200-meters time of 23.73 that would have tied for fourth all-time, but it was just slightly wind-aided at +2.2.

Along with Ault's huge missile in the javelin, Brice Crider also went beyond the 200-foot mark for the first time, getting a new PR of 203-4 to take third overall, while Jack Olsen threw a best today of 200-9. In the women's javelin, Kathleen Horn had a season-best of 148-8 to take sixth, and Natalie Holmer was seventh at 148-3, with Ashley Schroeder 10th at 133-1.

Yet another career-best in the throws today came from Nolan Such, as the senior from Wenatchee went 177-5 on his sixth and final attempt to take second overall.

Freshman Ava Washburn hurdled for the first time this season, running 15.46, and Jonathan Frazier also ran the high hurdles, taking fourth in 14.73.