Englar and Johnsen Headline Cougs Weekend in California

CLOVIS, Calif.— Senior Jacob Englar (5.32m) cleared the highest pole vault bar in the Pac-12 this season and graduate student Colton Johnsen clocked the conference's fastest time of the season (8.39.38) in the men's 3,000m steeplechase to highlight the Washington State men's and women's track and field team trip to California, as Cougs record 11 top-3 finishes across both the Payton Jordan Invitational and the Fresno State Invitational.

As the lone Cougar running in the Payton Jordan Invitational, Johnsen did not disappoint on Friday night. In the men's 3,000m steeplechase he recorded a time of 8:39.38, the fastest time in the Pac-12 this season, to place 12th overall in the event.

Outside of Johnsen, the WSU men's and women's track and field team competed in the Fresno State Invitational where Englar put on a show in the men's pole vault at Veterans Memorial Stadium. He placed first overall in the men's pole vault with his Pac-12 leading mark of 5.32m.

Junior Skyler Walton recorded the second fastest 100m dash time in WSU history crossing the finish line at the 11.54 mark, placing third overall with her new personal best time. Redshirt freshman Micaela De Mello was .01 behind her personal best time in the women's 100m hurdles with a time of 13.09, as she won the event.

Both De Mello and Walton were part of the women's 4x100m relay team that also included juniors Jasneet Nijjar and Elise Unruh-Thomas that won their race with a time of 45.10, the eighth fastest 4x100m relay time in WSU history.

Freshman Mevin Jelagat places fifth overall in the women's 5,000m race as she breaks her second WSU freshman record. She now holds the WSU women's freshman records in the 5,000m (16:29.76) and the 10,000m (34:05.10).

The Cougar men's 4x100m relay team of sophomore Jared McAlvey, juniors De'antae Choates, Blake Derringer, and freshman Yanai Macon added a top-three finish to their day as the group clocked a time of 40.66 seconds, placing second overall.

In the women's high jump, juniors Aislinn Overby (1.76m) and Suzy Pace (1.73m) place first and second overall, respectively. On the men's side graduate student Mitch Jacobson took first place with his bar clearing height of 2.12m.

For the third time this season, Nana Gyedu rose the bar on her own WSU freshman record in the women's shot put with a mark of 15.34m on Saturday to place fifth overall.  Fellow freshman Valentina Barrios Bornecelli continued her outstanding rookie season by winning the women's javelin with a throw of 48.84m and senior Anna Rodgers placed runner-up in the women's long jump with a mark of 5.87m.

Freshman Kelvin Limo finished second overall in the men's invitational 3,000m steeplechase clocking in with a personal record time of 8:48.05.

For more information on the Washington State track and field team, follow @WSUCougarXCTF on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.