NAMPA, Idaho -- The Washington State track and field teams opened the 2017 indoor competitive season with nine event wins and 15 personal-best marks at the Ed Jacoby Invitational at the Jacksons Indoor Facility Friday and Saturday in Nampa, Idaho.
 
Sophomore sprinters Ja'Maun Charles (Pleasanton, Calif.) and Regyn Gaffney (Chehalis, Wash.) were double-winners on the banked indoor track. Charles won the men's 60m dash with a PR time of 6.76, and won the 200m dash in a time of 21.74. Gaffney won the women's 60m dash with a PR time of 7.60 seconds, and won the 200m dash with a time of 25.39, the same time as WSU redshirt freshman, Tierney Silliman.
 
Cougar women also claiming wins in Nampa were: senior Liz Harper in the 60m hurdles (8.85), senior Kiana Davis in the high jump (1.69m/5-feet, 6 inches), redshirt junior Greer Alsop in the triple jump (12.49m/40-11 3/4), and redshirt junior Katie Wardsworth in the 20-lb weight throw (25.75m/51-8 1/4).
 
Freshman Josh Schulz (Pe Ell, Wash.) won the men's long jump with a leap of 22-7 1/4 (6.90m). In the men's 60m hurdles, senior CJ Allen had the fastest time in the prelims and was the runner-up in the final with a PR time of 8.04 with freshman Sam Brixey running a prelim time of 8.06 and then placing third in the final in a time of 8.07.
 
Additional Cougar women reaching PR marks included: Stephanie Cho (400m, 59.63 - 3rd), Greer Alsop (long jump, 5.73m/18-9 3/4 - 2nd), McKenna Hogan (long jump, 5.66m/18-7 - 4th), and Liz Harper (long jump, 5.66m/18-7 - 5th; shot put,10.89m/35-8 3/4 - 11th).
 
WSU men tallying PR marks included: Ethan Gardner (60m, 6.97 - prelims), Jake Nienhuis (400m, 51.22 - 5th), Ray Littles (long jump, 6.42m/21-0 3/4 - 5th), Josh Colbert (triple jump, 14.53m/47-8 - 2nd), Robby Flores (triple jump, 14.45m/47-5 - 3rd), Jake Callaghan (shot put, 15.98m/52-5 1/4 - 2nd), and Amani Brown (weight throw, 15.90m/52-2 - 4th).
 
"I thought the 60m and 60m hurdles, both of which were the emphasis for us at this meet, went very well," WSU Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Wayne Phipps said. "Ja'Maun Charles and Regyn Gaffney had fantastic openers. Our freshmen were excellent today as well. Jordyn Tucker in the 60m dash as well as Nick Johnson in the 60m hurdles were outstanding in their first ever collegiate races. I also very impressed with Sam Brixey who opened with a mark that is only 0.05 off of the WSU freshmen indoor hurdles record. Overall, it was a great meet for our season-opener and a very important one for our freshmen. After getting a meet under our belts, we are very excited to compete at home next weekend."
 
SEATTLE -- Washington State's small contingent of men and women track and field competitors reached seven personal-best marks at the UW Preview Indoor meet Saturday at the Dempsey Indoor Facility in Seattle.
 
Senior Lateah Holmes cleared an indoor PR height of 5-7 (1.70m) to be the tied for second place in the women's high jump. Kristine Felix, coming off a redshirt season in 2016, also tied for second place but in the pole vault with a height of 13-0 3/4 (3.98m).
 
In the men's high jump, Keelan Halligan, Cole Smith and Max English all cleared 6-6 3/4 (2.00m) with Halligan tied for fourth, Smith sixth and English seventh. Tucker Mjelde took fourth place in the men's pole vault after clearing an indoor PR height of 15-9 (4.80m) while Troy Gingerich cleared 15-3 (4.65m) for eighth. Peyton Fredrickson took sixth place in the men's long jump with a leap of 21-10 (6.65m).
 
Natalie Ackerley was the runner-up in the women's 800m with a PR time of 2:15.79 with WSU teammate Grace Victor sixth in a time of 2:18.02 and Cougar alum Caroline Austin fourth (2:17.13).
 
Another Cougar alum, Jeshua Anderson, was the runner-up in the men's 60m hurdles in a time of 8.01.
 
The Cougars track and field teams host the WSU Open Indoor Track and Field meet Friday, Jan. 20, and Saturday, Jan. 21, at the WSU Indoor Facility.