Bellingham, Wash. – Competing at a pair of meets at Western Washington University Friday and Saturday, the UBC Thunderbirds continued to push the bar higher as the conference and national championship meets draw ever closer.

Facing challenging conditions and a strong field of athletes, the T-Birds managed to put together still more personal best performances as they get ready for the most critical portion of their season.

"I think the last two days elicited the greatest spectrum of reactions so far this season from our squad," said UBC head coach, Laurier Primeau. "We had athletes making their first appearance on the track after coming back from injury, some who faced really challenging wind conditions and others who had season or personal bests. Each of those results require different framing conversations for coaches, which is something we try really hard to be good at, but don't always get right."

"The experience this weekend will help us compete when it matters most, namely the Cascade Conference and NAIA Championships!"




PEE WEE HALSELL INVITATIONAL

Amelia Cha once again surpassed six metres in women's long jump, her 6.01 metre top attempt Friday good for first place ahead of teammate Alessandra Ionescu-Zanetti who set a new personal best with her second place mark of 5.45 metres.

Ionescu-Zanetti also ran a season best 100 metre hurdles time of 15.28, good for fifth place.

Bryce White won men's pole vault clearing 4.75 metres while Sam McGee finished fifth with a new personal best height of 3.85 metres.

Lucia Rueppell cleared 3.54 metres to take second place in women's pole vault.



Katelyn Putz took third in women's hammer throw by reaching 52.31 metres while Bella Hall finished fourth with a top attempt on the day of 51.61 metres.

Jordan Dickhof finished fourth in men's javelin reaching 58.93 metres.

Freshman Miles Graham shaved more than 17 seconds off his previous personal best in the men's 3000 metre steeplechase, finishing fourth with a time of 9:37.57. Calvin Brain claimed fourth in 9:47.14.




RALPH VERNACCHIA INVITATIONAL

Also taking place at Bellingham's Civic Stadium on Saturday, Gwyn Katics set a new personal best in the women's 400 metres for the second straight week, running a 55.81 for fifth place at the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational. Her new mark moves the sophomore up from the 16^th ranked time in the NAIA this season to 13^th.

James Kerr came within three one-hundredths of a second of his personal best in the men's 400 with a 47.83, good for third place. Chase Haagensen finished sixth with a time of 48.88.

Kerr did set a new PB in the 200 metres, clocking in at 21.62 for fourth place.

Junior Sarah Snell hit a season best javelin throw of 43.30 metres, hitting 'A' Standard to secure her spot at next month's NAIA National Championship. Claiming third at the Ralph Vernacchia, Snell now holds the number six ranking this season.



The 'Birds claimed third through seventh in women's javelin Saturday as number two ranked Catarina Bell threw for 43.07 metres followed by Mikayla Grant with a 41.07 metre top throw. Freshman Erika Burry hit 'B' Standard for the first time with a personal best of 41.03 metres while Liepa Bajaruanas claimed seventh with her best throw of the season at 39.90 metres.

Nunu Ishaka had another good day in triple jump, winning the meet by reaching 11.90 metres. Ionescu-Zanetti hit a personal best at 11.17 metres for third place.

Sarah Pimblett matched her high jump PB clearing 1.70 metres for the win. Ionescu-Zanetti claimed a share of fourth, jumping 1.50 metres.

Audrey Vennesland set a new personal best in women's long jump by reaching 5.31 metres to claim third.

Sam Weston hit a new personal best to win men's pole vault by clearing 4.55 metres, sharing the top spot Saturday with Western Washington's Aidan Klein. Sam McGee took home a share of fifth making good at 3.95 metres, also a new personal best.

Tanya Dhanoa took second place in the women's 100 metre hurdles, crossing the finish line in 14.44. A busy Ionescu-Zanetti claimed fourth place with a time of 15.38.



Dhanoa ran the 100 metres Saturday as well, finishing fourth in 12.53 while Vennesland took sixth. Dhanoa also competed in the 200 metres, finishing third with a time of 25.17.

Mia Cameron earned a third place finish in women's 400 metre hurdles, crossing the line in 1:04.02.

Will Van Schagen took sixth in the men's 400 hurdles with fellow freshman Luc Primeau claiming eighth.

In her first entry of the season, sophomore Grace Beach finished sixth in the women's 1500 metres, clocking in at 4:44.83.

With the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship meet now just two weeks away, the T-Birds have one final tune-up opportunity by way of the Oregon State High Performance taking place next Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2 in Portland.
 
PEE WEE HALSELL INVITATIONAL RESULTS

RALPH VERNACCHIA INVITATIONAL RESULTS