Saturday, December 13
Spokane, Wash.
All Day
University of Washington
at
Spokane Invitational
Rhoads Soars To Nation’s No. 1 Mark In Pole Vault
December 13, 2025 | Track & Field
Spokane Invitational Results
SPOKANE, Wash. – You only get one chance to make a first impression, and James Rhoads made it count in a sensational way. The transfer pole vaulter formerly at Penn, Rhoads soared to the No. 1 mark in the NCAA in the early season, winning the Spokane Invitational at the Podium with a career-best height of 18-8 3/4.
Rhoads, a First Team All-American in his time at Penn, flew to the No. 3 mark in UW history in his first time wearing the Husky singlet. His mark has never not made it to NCAA Indoors.
But he wasn't the only new Husky to clear 18-feet today. Eli Gault-Crabb, a transfer from Cornell, also cleared a new lifetime-best of 18-0 1/2 which now ranks him in a tie at No. 9 in Husky history.
Several Husky sprinters also opened up their 2025-26 seasons today at the Podium. Junior Jonathan Frazier led the way with a runner-up finish in the 60-meter hurdles, posting a time of 8.02 seconds.
Sophomore Mikayla Gardley led three Husky women in the 300-meters. Gardley ran 40.11 to take third overall. Freshman Sena Pittman ran 42.31 for 10th and freshman Sara Nordlund clocked 43.30 for 13th overall.
Senior Sophia McHenry was 18th overall in the 60-meters in 8.02 seconds and 13th in the 200-meters in 26.24. Nordlund also ran the 60m hurdles and was 10th in 9.38.
Redshirt freshman multi Tomeko Cates also impressed in his debut. He won the early collegiate pole vault section, clearing 15-8 1/4. He then competed in the shot put, getting a best of 39-9 3/4.
Washington will now have a month to train before its next competition, which will also be the home opener. The UW Preview is set for Jan. 16-17 inside the Dempsey.
SPOKANE, Wash. – You only get one chance to make a first impression, and James Rhoads made it count in a sensational way. The transfer pole vaulter formerly at Penn, Rhoads soared to the No. 1 mark in the NCAA in the early season, winning the Spokane Invitational at the Podium with a career-best height of 18-8 3/4.
Rhoads, a First Team All-American in his time at Penn, flew to the No. 3 mark in UW history in his first time wearing the Husky singlet. His mark has never not made it to NCAA Indoors.
But he wasn't the only new Husky to clear 18-feet today. Eli Gault-Crabb, a transfer from Cornell, also cleared a new lifetime-best of 18-0 1/2 which now ranks him in a tie at No. 9 in Husky history.
Several Husky sprinters also opened up their 2025-26 seasons today at the Podium. Junior Jonathan Frazier led the way with a runner-up finish in the 60-meter hurdles, posting a time of 8.02 seconds.
Sophomore Mikayla Gardley led three Husky women in the 300-meters. Gardley ran 40.11 to take third overall. Freshman Sena Pittman ran 42.31 for 10th and freshman Sara Nordlund clocked 43.30 for 13th overall.
Senior Sophia McHenry was 18th overall in the 60-meters in 8.02 seconds and 13th in the 200-meters in 26.24. Nordlund also ran the 60m hurdles and was 10th in 9.38.
Redshirt freshman multi Tomeko Cates also impressed in his debut. He won the early collegiate pole vault section, clearing 15-8 1/4. He then competed in the shot put, getting a best of 39-9 3/4.
Washington will now have a month to train before its next competition, which will also be the home opener. The UW Preview is set for Jan. 16-17 inside the Dempsey.
Players Mentioned
Spr
/ Track & Field
Spr
/ Track & Field
PV
/ Track & Field
Spr
/ Track & FieldSpr/Hur
/ Track & FieldSpr
/ Track & FieldPV
/ Track & FieldRaising the Bar | Hana & Amanda Moll
Monday, August 04
Women's 1500m final - 2025 NCAA outdoor track and field championship
Sunday, June 15
Nathan Green | 2025 NCAA 1500m Champion
Saturday, June 14
Track & Field NCAA Championships | Huskies Highlights
Friday, June 13
